We like to label ourselves, especially during life transitions. One of the popular questions people ask for labeling purposes is - Are you a pessimist or an optimist? Or, Is the glass half empty or half full?
Pessimist Vs Optimist
So which one are you? A negative nancy or a positive paul?
Many of us do skew in one direction or the other, but it doesn’t mean we have to live there.
If you are someone who is skeptical, critical, or judgemental, those don’t have to be ‘bad’ things! You may skew towards viewing life from a more cautious lens, but being able to assess if something is safe or sensical or worth your time is a good thing! It can save you effort and pain.
It can also mean you have a harder time looking for what’s going well.
Notice I didn’t say ‘finding’ what’s going well, I said ‘looking’. You will always find the good stuff, but you might have to spend a bit more time and effort (gasp, is this cost-effective?) looking for it.
Finding What We Look For During Life Transitions
We see that look on our friend/family/kid/partner’s face and we immediately say, “what’s wrong?” We have a tendency to default to something being off, wrong, bad. Red alert, sound the alarm, something is WRONG. And maybe it is. But does it sorta seem like we are always looking for the wrong? Looking for the potholes, the gray days, the messy house?
What if I told you that whatever we look for is EXACTLY what we are going to find?
Have you ever noticed that when you are in a bad mood, *everything* in your orbit bothers you? Everything is wrong or bad or annoying. But, are the things around you actually bad or wrong? Is it possible that others around you (your spouse, or kids, or friends, or even pets) don’t see the bad and wrong and are even enjoying the very thing that is rubbing you raw?
Shifting Your Mindset to the Positive During Life Transitions
We assign value to the things in our lives. The things themselves are not good or bad, we decide they are based on a million factors. So, with that logic, if we decide something is valuable, worthwhile, or positive, could it possibly become that in our mind?
This is not about denying hard or negative feelings. This is about shifting your mindset and perspective. You choose what you look for in your day. If you look for the mess, hurt, and disconnection, I 100% guarantee, you will find it. But, if you look for abundance, joy, and connection, I think you might find “what’s going well?” is right in front of you.
See the Positive with Therapy for Life Transition in Tigard, OR
Going through major life transitions? Wanting to stop finding the negative and instead notice the positives? With the help of one of our optimistic therapists in Tigard, OR you can change the way you talk about your life. At Discover Counseling, we offer therapy for life transitions to help you see the positive no matter what changes you are going through. We make starting therapy in Tigard, OR easier with three steps. First, contact us and let us know you're interested in therapy for life transitions. Second, make an appointment with a dedicated therapist. The final step, start feeling optimistic and seeing the positives in life.
Additional Therapy Services at Discover Counseling in Oregon
We offer many therapy services to meet your needs while changing the way you talk about your life. Along with therapy for life transitions, we also offer anxiety treatment and codependency counseling. Additionally, our therapists in Tigard offer therapy for relationship issues and premarital therapy. Are you a parent? We offer support for postpartum parents and parenting couples. Everyone, including kids and teenagers, can struggle to see the positive Call us today to start online therapy in Oregon.
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