Give Negativity a Knuckle Sandwich
Cultivating optimism is key to building your resilience.

My friend gave me some strawberry popcorn seeds. These are the most beautiful dark, ruby coloured pomegranate seeds – just smaller. Being a keen gardener, I planted them immediately and after a couple of very long months, I finally harvested my first crop.

Year after year, I planted the remaining seeds from the previous year and successfully harvested my homegrown popcorn.

Then we moved – and the quality of the soil at the new house was no gardener’s dream. Needless to say, the jar with the remaining seeds from my previous garden remained unopened for a very long time – until recently, when I rediscovered the seeds. Being very aware of our unfriendly, unfertile soil, my family just rolled their eyes when I bravely announced: Time for popcorn seeds again!

Research evidence has shown that optimism creates physical- and mental resilience for people even those who have been through extremely difficult life events or medical situations.

Optimism can help reduce our stress, lead to more successful relationships, and increase our emotional and even physical health. Being hopeful and confident that we will get through the current difficulties does not mean that we ignore the realities of what is going on around us – it just means that we approach these realities in a more productive way.

Chances are good that only a few of my newly planted popcorn seeds will germinate, but with the right care and support I am convinced that the ones that are resilient and hardy, will in the end deliver cobs with hundreds of shiny new seeds.

Never despair, make a conscious effort to see things in a positive light, and sow seeds of gratitude, optimism, and hope wherever you go.