How can I become optimistic when everything is so negative?

Stay away from the news, don't read the headlines, go back to bed and dream something sexual.

i get so sick of everyone saying "everything is so negative!" are you dying? starving? do you have festering pus ridden sores all over your body? you obviously have internet access. think about all the wonderful things you DO have in your life. that is why you should be optimistic!

Turn the tv off for a few hours!

ha, I always wonder the same thing!

This might sound really silly but I think its practice- at least that is what I tell myself- if you are used to thinking negatively you need to start trying to substitute the negative thoughts with positive ones. Its something I am trying to do and it is not easy.

I also try to see the good in anyone, and if I feel wronged by someone, I automatically think that person is mean or an a**, but then I try to see any good in them and feel compassion for them.

I know that the Buddhists believe that compassion is something we all need to feel in order to feel okay or to be happy, from what I have read. It makes sense to me.

life is only 10 percent of who and what you are. The other 90 percent is how you react/overcome/triumph/defeat and come out on the other side. I believe that life is a choice- and all that it encompasses- to include how we as people view "life". Do this hun: CHOOSE to find a positive element in whatever situation/experience you face. Things will become negative/stay negative/drag you into the depths of negative hell-- if YOU CHOOSE to view it that way. One step, one item at a time. Negative feeds negative, and is far more destructive than even the pessimists give it credit for. I see a glass as half full, I believe that without some opposites we can't begin to understand and appreciate what is positive and good and optimists will say to you: yes, it's ugly out and storming, and horrible accidents- but-- in that storm we survived, some of us were heroes, and just being alive on the other side is cause enough to celebrate the positive. Attitude and a mental view of your life will help you to become more positive. That is my wish for you. xx~

before you can answer that question ask yourself this

Are you a follower or are you a leader. If you are a leader than be optimistic and others will follow you.

just smile in the mirror for yourself,not for others,youre living your life for yourself...not for thoose negative people,be happy,Life is evil :)

Its simple really. Whether things are negative or positive depends on your perception and perspective. True growth and understanding mostly comes about from what happens after some sort of negative event. It is what gets you to look at yourself and perhaps make changes. This is the positive within the negative. If you look for positive things you eventually start to find them. It's easy to focus on the negative. The trick is to look past it and focus on the what's positive no matter how small. It isn't really that everything is ever so negative. It is that a choice was made to be negative. The happy part is that any point any one of us can make the change and start looking for positive things that will change how we view the world and ourselves. You have to want to do that though because it does take effort.

Here is my secret:

Don't watch the news.
Don't listen to talk radio.
Don't hang out with negative people.

Just live in the today and enjoy your life and the people in it. My little part of the world is NOT negative and I am able to keep my positive spin on life.

are you healthy
have you a career
are you studying
have you a family
a home to live at
eating well
a bed to sleep at...etc
if you have some of these then you are a good positive things
find a paper and write down every good thing you have and stop comparing yours with others

Just REFUSE to dwell on the same old negative stuff for 1 week. That's all, you can that for ONE week. If that scares you, don't worry it sounds like you'll be able to find NEGATIVE stuff when you get back from your (-) hiatus. You WANT to be negative. You LOVE being negative... so just QUIT it for a week. Take a week's vacation from the negatively... you have to stop being negative to see anything positive. FORCE yourself to see POSITIVE in EVERY situation. It's not impossible... somehow you've already done that for the NEGATIVE side. And a good healthy dose of the suggestions above will show you how to look at the POSITIVE.

now................................................ tell the truth... not to me, but to yourself.......................................as you read this, did you only think negative thoughts about me??? Uh huh! I THOUGHT so. So you really don't want to change... and until you do, you WON'T.

Maybe its because u're so sure that even if everythings alright, something wud go wrong, so u detach urself from everything and put on the negative mask.
Just do what a really happy, +ive magicaldoll would be doing.
No matter how others laugh.
Its ur life

Realize the negativity lies within the minds of others and has no bearing on reality.