Choose Optimism

Many ideas I want to share about health and vitality require us to agree on a perspective. I've been using a framework to interpret events in my body and mind, and it has served me well.

“The optimist is right. The pessimist is right. The one differs from the other as the light from the dark. Yet both are right. Each is right from his own particular point of view, and this point of view is the determining factor in the life of each. It determines as to whether it is a life of power or of impotence, of peace or of pain, of success or of failure.” - Ralph Waldo Trine

It is easy to respond well to health and vitality. Responding optimally to injury and illness is where we have an opportunity.

Responding pessimistically makes me feel like a victim, blaming causes beyond my control (misfortune or bad luck). I also land up feeling like there is nothing to gain, only to lose, and this creates depression.

Responding optimistically helps me see the obstacle as a gift to develop a deeper understanding of myself and to grow. It also has a sense of meaning that comes from knowing this is the most important information (injury/illness) I need right now to take my health to the next level. Together, this creates the sense of having something to gain from this temporary limitation.

Being optimistic makes the whole experience more comfortable, from my genes upward. Instead of being set back, I have an opportunity to move forward and become a better version of myself. These are the victories. By shifting my perspective, I am inspired into learning and action, instead of being depressed into inaction.

What appears to debilitate us can become the key to enabling us.

“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” - Marcus Aurelius

I started by imagining at least one reason that could explain why event X is happening for me, and not to me. I'm sure you will have success if you try it too.