The Optimism Advantage: 50 Simple Truths to Transform Your Attitudes and Actions into Results

Chapter 15. How to Become Optimistic in Life . . . By Really Trying

"Life is what we make it. Always has been, always will be."

—Grandma Moses

Your future optimism depends on many things, but it mostly depends on you. There isn't one particular silver bullet that will make you the practical optimist you want to become. Someone who exhibits excellence in action isn't just behaving this way after reading a book on the topic and trying it for the first time. Serious learners cultivate personal change, and mastery is the result of sustained dedication and focused application.

"At a certain point there are more yesterdays than tomorrows. So, I plan on spending all my tomorrows very carefully and appreciating every one of them."

—Chris Gardner

Change is about personal accountability and choices. So what are you going to do with the insights you learned here to make the optimism advantage work for you? Here's a summary of some of the key points about optimism for you to consider:

• No matter what has happened to you, you're not a victim. You are a survivor with choices about how you can respond to the hands you've been dealt.

• Have a purpose worthy of your commitment to make your choices and actions meaningful and compelling.

• Choose lifelong learning as your ticket to renewal and revitalized opportunity at any age.

• Take care of your body and maintain good health habits, and your body will do a better job of taking care of you.

• Cultivate a bias for action that gets you out of the rearview mirror and ...