Modeling An Optimistic Outlook

I can’t say that I’m all “rainbows and sunshine.” I consider myself a cautious optimist. I’m generally optimistic about outcomes, but am aware that things can go wrong. And nothing annoys me more than others worrying about things they can’t change or control.

- Derek James

The hardest part of trying to raise an optimist is often the part that requires modeling optimism. How often do we complain about what we see on the news, about our bills, something that went wrong at work, or someone or something in our life that is annoying us? How often is that done in front of our kids? There are some solid lessons I have learned throughout my lifetime, and they seem to be working. So, in no particular order here is my approach to instilling an optimistic outlook in your kids.

Focus on solutions rather than problems. Instead of saying, “We’re never going to get to the restaurant on time,” try focusing on solutions like trying a different route to get there faster. Kids then see your ability to readily adapt.