Keep Optimistic Delusions Fresh On The Mind

An optimistic delusion could be a very positive attitude…some might say an overly confident attitude. You might think that is just being braggish and even lying to yourself. You may be correct, but the science is fascinating on this issue.

Studies show that individuals who overemphasize their abilities, skills, and talents for a new endeavor ultimately execute at a higher level than those who are more realistic or pessimistic about succeeding.

People who overestimate their abilities learn skills better and are more successful. This is not too surprising. If you do not think you are good at something and cannot study to do it well, you will be less motivated and involved in learning that activity.

Conversely, if you expect the best, you will jump in and get busy conquering the new skill. With high expectations - even unjustly high hopes – you greatly enhance the odds of succeeding.

How Optimistic Delusions Can Help You to Reach Your Goals

Use these seven tips to use positive delusions to your benefit:

1. Positive delusions give courage. If you tell yourself, “Things will improve if I just hang in there,” you give yourself the hope you need to keep trying and persevere. It is always possible that things will not progress, but you give yourself a much better chance of success when you trust they will.
   
   

   Contemplate about what you would do instead if you were very pessimistic. You would be deprived of hope. Do you feel this would make you more or less likely to succeed?

     
2. Assuming the best allows you to be an action taker. If you have high expectations, you put yourself in the position to take action. Whether you are interested in learning to play the banjo or networking with business prospects, you can move forward if you trust that something positive will occur  
3. Keep in mind that many of your beliefs are at least partially misconceptions. Your awareness and interpretations of your past experiences are far from perfect. There is a little bit of what you believe to be true that is not true. We are all operating under various misbeliefs.
   
   
4. Limit negative self-talk. Negativity slays productivity. It defeats your spirit and motivation, spoiling your future. Put a damper on your negative self-talk before it ever has the opportunity to gain momentum. When it starts, immediately turn your attention to something else.
   
   
5. Think about the kind of woman you want to be. Reflect on the goals you have in your life and think about what type of person you need to be to reach those goals. What qualities and characteristics do you need to possess? See yourself as already having those qualities.
   
   
6. Visualize success. One of the easiest ways to create an optimistic delusion is to imagine yourself being successful. Visualize overcoming every possible complication. Picture yourself self-assuredly achieving success. That is one of the best ways to use positive delusions.
   
   
7. Trust that having positive delusions is something that can work for your best interest. Remind yourself that, at times, being practical and realistic can be very restraining. Being optimistic and valuing your capabilities can be very effective in the long term. 

There are times when you must remain practical and realistic. But those times might not be as often as you think.

If you have low expectations, would you be that eager to take those actions?

 

Valuing your skills and the likelihood of your success can sometimes be a powerful way to improve your results. Offer the benefit of the doubt to yourself regularly. See how it moves your life. You can always go back to your more pessimistic ways when you need to do so.

Elect to do what works rather than just what makes sense. Execute an optimism experiment on yourself and review the results.