How do we improve our optimism and teach our children to have a positive outlook on life? Simple, choose one of the seven ways below and begin. Practice just one, then, when you’re ready, choose another in the list and practice it as well. Before you know it, your outlook will have improved and you will be a more optimistic person.

Seven Ways to Improve Optimism

1. Sleep 6-9 hours per night. Without proper sleep your health deteriorates and your brain becomes foggy. If you are foggy life looks foggy instead of bright.

1. Every new day is just that. New. Let yourself approach each day fresh. Have a hiker mentality. After a good rest comes some more rewarding work. Without the work, you never reach the summit. Another hiker philosophy is “mind over matter.” Make your mind keep going even if the circumstances around you encourage you to stop. A new day is a spiritual experience. God gives us a rest and fresh start every 24 hours. What a blessing.

1. Look at all the good in life. Even if every child doesn’t turn out perfect, or if business is failing there are always good things to look at. You are all still together. You can still go for a walk and talk together. You control what you see. See the picture as okay, and you will be okay.

1. Focus. Stay focused on the really important things. Relationships and making meaningful memories are more important than all those stressful emotions. We have the relationships forever, the stresses are temporary. And, as long as we have relationships, we will have the means for happiness. Because good relationships bring happiness, not money and perfection.

1. Turn off the distractions. TV, computer, and constant going get in the way of making lasting relationships. Turn that stuff off and play a game, bake, garden or just talk instead. If you do this life will feel better and more productive. Media ruins productivity.

1. Make a new family culture. If our cultures are based on the things we do or the money we spend we will find stress and unhappiness even if things keep going perfect. Simplify your culture. Teach your children life-skills and recreate with games, walks, and good books and you will find fulfillment in life. We often think we need to do more to find that fulfilling feeling we are looking for. Usually we need to do less and do it well. It’s a worth while family culture shift.

1. Improve communication. When things go wrong, stay calm. Say what is happening, but don’t react to it. When things go well, say what happened too. Praise more. When life seems to be going along as normal, stop the normal to talk and connect. Think of yourself as a family therapist. Encourage people to talk to you and value what they say. Really listen… then help find solutions. Schedule regular talk time with your spouse and children.

We live if difficult times. These are not the first difficult times the world has known. Historically, those who focus on family and being optimistic are the ones who triumphantly make it through the hard times. They are the ones who have journal entries full of inspiring observations and lessons learned which strengthen people for years to come.

As you apply these seven steps, what will your inspiring stories of triumphant optimism be? You choose. And remember, what you choose will be what your children choose too.

Get a free audio class to strengthen a positive family culture through Self-Government skills like: following instructions, accepting no answers, accepting consequences, disagreeing appropriately, problem solving, and calm communication. A gift to you from Nicholeen Peck. Get it now by clicking here: http://teachingselfgovernment.com/get-your-download-now.