"You're always so optimistic."

Happy Finals time everyone! Everyone will be fine, we've gone through these a bajillion times, so I'm just sending you positive thoughts your way... Good luck to all!

Also thinking of a special friend of mine, who I know is going to rock out tomorrow on her big test. :)

I was getting brunch with another friend yesterday, and we were just talking about things that were going on. She commented, "You're always so optimistic." Kind of a "duh" moment, but it's always nice to hear it nonetheless.

I say it's a "duh" moment because I know I'm optimistic, sometimes even overly optimistic. That's just how I've been for probably 6+ years now. It was a decision of mine to try not to dwell on things that happen, whether they're good or bad. You just have to be ready for the next thing that comes your way.

I'm not saying to not enjoy what you have. But realistically, whatever you think you have could be taken from you in a single second. What to take away from it: be grateful for all the good you have. However, when something bad comes along, try not to put so much energy into that. Don't get drawn in by pessimistic thinking. It's too easy to have every part of your life be negative, and it's a lot harder to try to get back to optimism.

As a chemist (or general scientist), one thing you learn quickly is that though reactions, etc. are supposed to work in a specific theoretical way, real world application is not always the same, and most of the time, things don't work the way you want them to. So, do I know how easy it is to be pessimistic in a world that rarely works the way it should? You bet I do. However, in my field, every positive result brings such joy and optimism, you want to search for those positive results.

So: in my case, definitely, why not just be optimistic as much as possible? It's so much more rewarding than to be pessimistic, and have things go wrong time and time again. Things are going to go wrong, it's important in how you deal with these hard times. When the good times come around, they're much more enjoyable if you can be generally optimistic.

So: if you are wanting to be optimistic, but don't know where to start... here are a few tips that work for me.

1) Enjoy what you're doing, whatever it is. I hate doing chores, like cleaning. However, the end result makes me feel good, because things look so much better and I feel more peaceful having a clean bathroom, clean dishes, a organized desk. Less disorder for me makes me happy. Same thing goes for something you're having fun with, whether it's getting together with friends, working out or fixing your favorite meal. Enjoy what you're doing, and the company you have. When things get tough, you can remember those times, and look forward to having that feeling again.

2) Take breaks when working. Too many times, we want to just work on something straight through to get it done. What I've found is that if I don't take a 15 min break here and there, I end up procrastinating a lot more than I would have with some time off.

3) Listen to music that makes you happy. Regardless if it's classical, hip-hop, dubstep or bluegrass, music can effect your emotions very easily. Listen to things that make you happy, or excited, or motivated. Whatever you want to feel, play music to make yourself feel that way. If you have to force yourself to listen to it, soon you'll want to listen to it, and you'll be glad you did.

4) If you're not happy, pretend you are. I know that sounds a little silly. Why are you pretending to be happy and optimistic if you're not? By pretending to be happy, a lot of times (for me, at least) I then become happy. It's a gradual change, but it's a genuine change. You start to actually feel happy and you don't have to  pretend anymore. It's funny, but it's true.

I'm not saying I don't get negative. We all get stressed, and it's all too easy to get into a negative mindset. But sometimes, we just need to regroup, and get past what's making us negative. Take a "me" day, figure out what's really bothering, and then make a plan on how to fix it. Some problems are easy to fix, some take a lot longer... but take sometime to yourself. I know I forget that I need to work on myself sometimes, and not just work on other things.

So, in an optimistic ending, go enjoy the winter season everyone! (Although it certainly doesn't feel like winter! 53 degrees today) It's the most wonderful time of the year, after all. :)