Are you an optimist or a realist? Although you might assume you’re either one or the other, the truth is that by combining the best traits of both, you can completely change your life for the better. While an optimist is skilled at focusing on the positive aspects of life, a realist is focused on their current situation, warts and all. Adopting the mindset of both means staying positive about the future while being aware of possible challenges and obstacles so you can overcome them. With that in mind, here are 10 things optimistic realists do naturally and what you can learn from them.
1. They Replace Negative Thoughts With Positive Ones.
It’s easy to get caught up in negative, intrusive thoughts, but they make you miss out on the positive things around you. A positive realist doesn’t focus on the downsides but rather tries to see the bright side of things, even if that means making good use of their time. For example, they see getting stuck in traffic as an opportunity to listen to an entertaining audiobook or pop on that album by their favorite artists they haven’t had a chance to hear yet. It sounds silly but even a little habit like this makes a big difference.
2. They Focus On The Details.
Setting goals requires a positive mindset — you have to believe that you’ll achieve what you set out to, right? But, a positive realist adds a dash of realism to the optimism. So, for example, they dream about publishing a YA fictional novel but have a realistic goal about how they’re going to meet their writing goals and pitch the manuscript to literary agents. This attention to detail serves them well.
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4. They Plan For Worst-Case Scenarios.
Optimistic realists know that despite their best affirmations and mantras, life can throw them a curveball. But, they don’t let this derail their efforts. They like to have a backup plan in place in case their initial plan gets blown to smithereens so they won’t lose motivation or momentum.
5. They Meditate To Zap Anxiety.
Of course, there’s never a guarantee of achieving every goal, but optimistic realists take time to meditate on what they can’t control. This gives them inner peace, reduces anxiety, and helps them stay calm so they can find creative ways to tweak their plans and ideas. To give them a boost of optimism, they add visualization to their meditation sessions, providing a good balance of logic and imagination.
6. They Prepare And Practice.
Optimistic realists know the golden rule for achieving their dreams is to prepare, prepare, prepare! They make plans and to help them complete their tasks. This has the benefit of boosting their confidence and skills so they’re amped to chase their goals and focus on their bright future.
7. They Have An Upbeat Friend At Their Side.
When bad things strike, the optimistic realist knows the importance of being surrounded by positive, upbeat people. They don’t complain about their situation to negative people who make them feel overwhelmed or distraught. Instead, they phone their positive-thinking, upbeat bestie who always keeps them on track.
8. They’re (Brutally) Honest With Themselves.
Optimistic realists aren’t blinded by toxic positivity — they know that they have to face the reality of situations and themselves without seeing things through rose-tinted glasses. For example, if they want to achieve the goal of getting fit, they draw up a realistic plan that caters to their lack of desire to hit the gym or their sweet tooth. By facing the facts, they’re able to feel more positive about what they want.
9. They Chase Dreams That Are Possible.
A person who’s optimistic without being realistic might set impossible dreams, essentially setting themselves up for failure. Optimistic realists, on the other hand, know their assets, challenges, personality traits (both good and bad), and skills so that they can set goals that are within reach. This ensures they become successful at whatever they try.
10. They Don’t Waste Their Time In Toxic Relationships.
When an optimistic realist finds themselves in a relationship that isn’t meeting their needs anymore, they get out without wasting time. Why? They know the great and not-so-great aspects of their relationship and since they like to face the truth of every situation, this prevents them from having a clash of heart and head. Plus, their optimistic attitude ensures that they focus on their bright future… with someone better suited to them.
11. They Don’t Stay Down In The Dumps.
When you fail at achieving something, it’s easy to feel down in the dumps. Ditto for when your relationship fails or you lose a promotion at work. But instead of hiding under the duvet for a week, an optimistic realist gets up and keeps chasing their dreams. This is because, although they have the facts about what went wrong, they also have the positive attitude to motivate them to try something different to get to where they want to be.
12. They Rise Above Stress.
When dealing with stressful events, such as a new project at work that’s making them feel overwhelmed, an optimistic realist is able to admit that they’re feeling stressed or lack confidence. However, they have a good measure of optimism to coach themselves to keep fighting. In other words, their sense of resilience and ability to persevere is strong. This is where their positive affirmations for tough times can come in handy to help them stay focused.
13. They See Opportunities For Growth.
Every situation is an opportunity to grow, and that’s what optimistic realists understand and internalize. They’re curious about how they can learn and improve themselves, and doing so gives them a boost of confidence to keep moving forward. This is a mindset focused on expansion. They don’t limit or restrict themselves because they know life’s a journey to feel excited about. You never know what amazing things are right around the corner.
