Have you ever seen the movie or musical “South Pacific”?  In that musical, there is a song called “Cockeyed Optimist”.  The main character, Nellie sings this lyrics:

I could say life is just a bowl of Jello

And appear more intelligent than smart,

But I’m stuck like a dope

With a thing called hope,

Because I can’t get it out of my heart.

Not this heart…

To me this is what living optimistically is about, living with hope in your heart… even if you look like a dope or not too smart.  The reality of a situation can be shifted with hope and optimism, and even if it can’t be changed then you live with the situation with grace.   Changing your perspective on a situation can help shift out of depression and move into optimism.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying to push the feelings of a situation underneath the surface to come up again in an unbecoming way.  I’m just saying that when I’ve been able to get out of a pessimistic belief set, then I can be happy and joyful and grateful in being a cockeyed optimist!  At least I am more pleasant to be around!!  (Ask my husband about that…)

-Lesa