“Life inflicts the same setbacks and tragedies on the optimist as on the pessimist, but the optimist weathers them better. The basis of optimism does not lie in positive phrases or images of victory, but in the way you think about causes.”

It’s a philosophy in how we interpret the events that happen in our everyday life. It’s an attitude in how we carry ourselves forward.

Optimism is both a philosophy and an attitude

Don't confuse optimism with the toxic positivity of modern-day society. <ul><li>Positivity is saying that things are good even when they're not. Truth is, toxic positivity is delusional and destructive because it blinds you from the reality of what is.</li><li>Optimism is about being hopeful about the future, even when the present seems woefully negative. It’s about working through your negative emotions—instead of ignoring them—to better understand what they’re trying to tell you.</li></ul>

Optimism ≠ toxic positivity 

An optimist is someone who consciously chooses to adopt an attitude that he or she can make the best of any given situation, no matter how tragic the situation is.

What it means to be an optimist

What you need to maneuver through a world of uncertainty is a sense of optimism—an attitude characterized by hope and confidence in a positive future.Optimistic attitudes are linked to a number of benefits, including better coping skills, lower stress and anxiety levels, better physical health, healthier relationships, and higher motivation and resilience when pursuing your goals.

A sense of optimism

People usually confuse optimism with positivity. Sure, they intersect, but 
they’re not the same. Optimism is simply choosing to believe that the 
future can still be beautiful and then willfully working today to manifest 
that future. It helps deal with uncertainty. In this article, we answer 
three questions: Why you're a born optimist, what is optimism, and how to 
become more of an optimist.

Understand yourself and those around you.

What it means to be an optimist

Similar ideas to What it means to be an optimist

Being an optimist

Be humble

Thinking about the end of our lives