Personal:

When something has a good outcome, and you are optimistic, you attribute that positive event to the efforts that you have made. Although you may also recognize the contribution of others or that there is some luck involved, you understand that you took advantage to that luck and collaborated with others to bring this good outcome into being.

Pervasive:

When you recognize that you have done something that created a good outcome, when you are taking an optimistic approach, you try to replicate those actions in other situations. If your efforts created a good outcome in one situation in your life, it is logical to believe that your efforts will lead to positive events in other areas of your life too.

Permanent:

Optimism grows. If you have had success in your life, and you have begun to extend that success from home to work to hobbies and other areas of life, you also begin to expect that success will continue to occur. For that reason, optimists have more positive outcomes than the average person. When you are optimistic, you have learned that you can do well and so you are more willing to try new things and learn as you gain experience.

Optimism is one of the skills taught in our twelve week Healthy Thinking Initiative Program. You can also participate in an six week Optimism for a Positive Outlook Program. Contact us for details at healthythinking@preventingdepression.com or call at (262) 544-6486.