The Power of Optimism for Leaders – Promise #1

3 Simple Ways to Power Up Your Positivity and Strengthen Your Peace of Mind as a Transformational Leader  

Optimism is one of the most powerful traits of any transformational leader – and harnessing the power of optimism is one of the fastest and easiest ways to become more effective.

An optimistic mindset focuses on creating solutions, productive collaboration, and clear communication.

Optimism shapes your perception and behavior as a leader, as well as your ability to guide your company and team through bad times and good. 

There’s a common misconception that, as a person, you’re either an optimist or a pessimist by nature. But like any mindset, optimism can be developed and strengthened.

All it takes is a little practice, persistence, and of course – positivity. 

What Makes a True Optimist?

To understand the power of optimism, ask yourself this question: If you fill a glass halfway with water, is it half-full – or half-empty?

This age-old question and its answer have historically defined how we assess each other’s perspective. If you see the glass as half-full, you’re an optimist. If you see it as half-empty, you’re a pessimist. 

I remember having a discussion with my brother about this expression, and he said something that I’ll never forget.

Instead of seeing the glass as half-full or half-empty, he said that no matter what, the glasses are fillable. Talk about demonstrating the power of optimism!

This is the idea that no matter how good or bad a situation is, it can always be made better. That is the perspective of a True Optimist.  

Fostering an Optimistic Mindset Starts with a Promise 

The renowned American New Thought leader, teacher and author, Christian D. Larson, wrote a powerful set of promises known as The Optimist Creed. 

This post kicks off our new series examining the promises of The Optimist Creed – and the power of optimism – as they apply to transformational leadership.

Today, we’ll focus on the first potential promise you can make to yourself as a transformational leader that will help you open yourself up to the mindset of a true optimist.

If you’re ready to embrace an optimistic mindset, I’d like to invite you to make this promise to yourself right here and now:

“I promise myself to be so strong that nothing can shake my peace of mind.”

If the idea of infallible peace of mind seems like a tall order, have no fear.  Here are 3 simple ways you can nurture the optimistic mindset and reclaim your peace when the going gets tough.

Optimist Power Move 1 – Practice Cultivating Your Inner Peace Daily 

For some people, optimism comes more naturally than others. For example, my wife Dora is the most optimistic person I know. One of the ways she maintains her inner peace is by starting off the day with a short prayer and meditation session. 

By using this time to connect with her higher power, she’s able to tap into her inner peace and trust that everything will work out, no matter what the day brings. 

Whether or not you believe in God or higher power, devoting as little as 5 minutes a day to quiet meditation can work wonders for fortifying your peace of mind. 

When you wake up in the morning (or whenever you can spare a few minutes) try meditating on what brings you inner peace. You can even try adding a few empowering affirmations. 

For example: 

• “There is a benefit and an opportunity in every experience I have.”
• “Everything is unfolding in perfect timing. I release worry and choose to trust.”
• “I have the strength and resourcefulness to handle anything that comes my way.”

Commit to this practice for just one week. You’ll be amazed at how easy it becomes to tap into the power of optimism and to recall your sense of inner peace when challenges arise. 

Optimist Power Move 2 – When Things Go Wrong, Adjust Your Perspective

As leaders, there are times when we get absolutely shaken to our core. Perhaps a critical deal falls through at the last moment, or we lose an important team member, or someone makes a costly mistake. These are the moments when it’s most important for leaders to hold themselves steady and deliberately use the power of optimism to their advantage.

One way you can stay level when things go sideways is by asking yourself the question: “How important is this really?

Sometimes it’s easy to get overwhelmed by things that – if you think about it – really aren’t all that important. If it won’t matter 10 years down the line, it’s not worth losing your inner peace over today.

When I ask myself that question, it allows me to calm my energy, return to my state of peace, and tackle the challenge with a clear head.

The next time you’re facing a difficult obstacle or setback, take a second to adjust your perspective, look at the big picture, and bring yourself back to your place of peace. 

Optimist Power Move 3 – Remind Yourself that You’re on a Journey

There will be times when something happens to rock your peace of mind that really does matter – and will matter in 10 years. 

Whenever I face those moments, I remind myself that I’m on a journey. At the end of the day, my job is to enjoy this journey because there will come a day when it comes to an end. When that happens, I know that all will be right – even if I can’t see it in the present moment. 

When you face those moments, remind yourself that it will all come in for a landing one way or the other. And no matter how impossible things may seem at the moment, everything will be resolved eventually. By embracing this approach, you’ll be able to put one foot in front of the other and simply focus on doing your best effort in the present moment. 

Optimism for Leaders: Practice Makes Positive 

A truly transformational leader knows that within every setback, there is a lesson and an opportunity to grow. 

This quote by Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich, demonstrates optimism for leaders:

“Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.”

I encourage you to utilize these practices in the coming week to fortify your inner peace and apply the power of optimism to create the results you want.

When you face challenges, remember the first vow in our Optimism for Leaders series:

“I promise myself to be so strong that nothing can shake my peace of mind.”

This promise to yourself is the first step on the path to becoming an optimist – and a more impactful transformational leader. If you haven’t already, take this moment to make this promise to yourself. 

Now, I want to hear from you! Do you have an example of a time when optimism has helped you navigate a difficult situation? Or do you have your own strategy for maintaining inner peace? Let us know your thoughts on optimism for leaders in the comments below!