How to be more hopeful

How to be more hopeful

A large part of happiness comes from hope and optimism.

So for those who’re keen to enjoy more happiness, here’s how you can have more hope…

via TED Ideas by Kara Cutruzzula

8 TED speakers show you how to nudge your mind toward the sunny side

We all go through times when we see the world through cloudy-colored glasses. Times when it’s tempting to just climb into bed — or bathtub — and hide out, maybe for up to a month. Fortunately for your loved ones, your livelihood and your life, we’ve gathered together eight tactics from TED speakers to cut through the fog.

1. Shift your expectations.

At times, it can seem impossible to stay optimistic in the face of the day’s headlines. However, you can gradually start to change your brain by leaning into what cognitive neuroscientist Tali Sharot calls our “optimism bias.”

As she explains, “Optimism changes subjective reality. The way we expect the world to be changes the way we see it. But it also changes objective reality. It acts as a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

What this means: when you wake up and think it’s going to be a blah day, you’re helping set yourself up to have just such a day. So the next time you catch yourself making a gloomy prediction, first congratulate yourself for noticing. Then, think about a few things you can look forward to throughout the day — they needn’t be big; never discount the simple yet sublime pleasure of a hot shower, that first sip of coffee, or the first few notes of your favorite song — and you’ll begin training your brain to zoom in on positive events.

2. Recognize that you can change your life at any point.

Do you feel like it’s hard to be look forward to the future because it seems all too predictable? Choice #1: resign yourself to the inevitable (and while you’re at it, why not pick out the inscription for your tombstone?). Choice #2: open yourself up to the possibilities that exist for everyone, at every age.

Consider Paul Tasner. He was shaken out of his daily grind when he was laid off at the age of 64. His entire adult life, he’d worked for others, but at the age of 66, he decided to become a first-time entrepreneur.

The Californian now makes biodegradable packaging that helps combat the plastic pollution crisis — and says, “I am doing the most rewarding and meaningful work of my life right now.” Contrary to what most of us think, starting a business is not something that is better to do when you’re young. Older entrepreneurs in the US have a 70 percent success rate when launching new ventures, Tasner notes, compared to 28 percent for younger entrepreneurs…

…to read the full & original article, with links to inspirational and happiness inducing TED talks, just click HERE