‘Optimism’. We’ve all heard the word, but do we know what it means? Do we know how to apply it; what to do with it? Some of us are told we have a lot of it, and we take it as a compliment, but do we really know what we are being told we are equipped with? According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the word ‘optimism’ means “an inclination to put the most favorable construction upon actions and events or to anticipate the best possible outcome”. Simply put, an optimist is someone who finds the good in all situations and prepares themselves for the absolute best outcome. Optimism isn’t a bad thing. However, it may be less useful than it could be if we don’t know how to optimize it.
It is in human nature to be optimistic. Pessimism is not something we are born with, it is developed. However, much pessimism is instilled in us; however, we all still have that inner optimist somewhere inside us waiting to be found. It is our choice whether we want to search for it, but it will inevitably stay there, looking for the best in situations, looking for the light, the silver lining.
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There is a less useful type of optimism. There is a kind that doesn’t help anyone and is not at all realistic. The kind that makes one believe that there is some supernatural force out there that makes life perfect for everyone, and one just needs to wait for it to show up. Imagination is one thing, but this is another altogether. This is unhelpful optimism that discourages work ethic and divides one’s attention from the real world. All this goes to say that optimism is a good thing as long as we know what to do with it. We can achieve greatness if only we knew how. We can achieve the dreams we imagine, if we know how to reach for them. There is a favorable route to success, and that is the one with helpful, realistic optimism to guide you along the path.
Now, you may be thinking, ‘So, this essay isn’t going to tell us how to be optimistic?’. To answer your question, it will not. Not exactly. Instead, it will tell you my method of what I have named ‘optimizing my optimism’ to find a better purpose and achieve one’s dreams. When an optimist dreams, they see light at the end of the tunnel. Once you optimize your optimism, you will learn to appreciate not only the light at the end but also the journey through the tunnel.
When I was eight years old, I started a business. During my years of business, I’ve learned so much. While my business hasn’t yet reached the point at which it can run on its own and can make residual income, I can feel my team getting closer and closer with the more effort we put in. I’ve learned to appreciate the process of losing a few times before you win to make the win more glorious. I’ve found that when we ‘lose’, we better ourselves. If we let the ‘loss’ bring us down, there will be two losses - one in the activity and one in self-esteem and confidence. This will inevitably make your journey so much more difficult in the long run.
If you look back now and realize that you haven’t been optimizing your optimism as you should, fret not. It is not too late, no matter how young or old you are. Just take a moment and be present in the here and now. Then look at your past, but only for a minute. Now focus on the future. Write your goals and plans. Dream big. What you dream, you’ll earn in time with hard work, effort, and a good work ethic. If you lose your focus, bring it back. This is what true legends do. The stories of other dreamers will motivate you. They will not tell you what to do, because no-one else’s dream is quite like yours, but they can lead you, no doubt. Look at Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, Misty Copeland, Tyler Perry, Serena Williams - any of them. Find someone with a dream similar to yours. See how they persevere. Find a friend, a mentor, a running partner. Find your way to greatness.
As we optimize our optimism, we mustn’t forget to be reasonable. We mustn’t forget to spend time with our families and friends. We mustn’t forget to love, to care, to share. We should do all this as well. But most importantly, we mustn’t forget to dream. It’s true - optimism is the key to achieving the dreams we imagine.
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