We are just a few weeks away from the end of another year. A year that has surely brought a series of experiences to many of us. Many of them satisfactory and full of joys, and others not so much. That is why I think it is very appropriate that our community Emotions & Feelings proposes us to reflect on the Theme of the Month about OPTIMISM, since it is a nice way to make instrospection on how we have faced some circumstances in this year that is ending and also how we want to face the ones that will come.
I am aware that in life to maintain balance, we must go through fortunate circumstances and also adversities, even if the latter do not please us very much because of the pain and sadness they can leave in us. That is why today I want to share some reflections on whether it is possible to be optimistic in times of adversity.
When everything goes right, it is easy to talk about optimism. Everything seems to be flowing in our favor, and worries are non-existent. There is a certainty that everything is going well. These are those times of "good times" when we think that fortune will always be with us. But what happens when illness comes to our door, we become unemployed, we lose our home or a loved one?
If there is one thing that characterizes adversity, it is that it comes without warning. They take us unawares, and sometimes we do not know how to react. It is as if a gray curtain clouds our thoughts to the point of paralyzing us.
It is natural to feel fear in the face of uncertainty because many times we do not know how an adverse situation will end, especially if it is the first time we experience it. Fear can generate sadness, discouragement, and even depression, making it difficult to make the right decisions to get out of this adverse circumstance. Many have succumbed to the spiral of pessimism that prevails in these circumstances.
Many define optimism as an attitude. Others define it as a tool. In my case, I perceive optimism as a philosophy that influences my way of thinking and helps me make decisions. Does being optimistic imply "trusting that everything will turn out well", despite adversity? Yes, especially in times of adversity. Optimism will help you walk the path calmly and try to extract the good from that experience.
Throughout my life, I have had to face many challenges that I could categorize as adversities, but the one that marked me the most was a medical diagnosis that could imply a bilateral mastectomy with its subsequent treatment of chemo and radiotherapy. When this came into my life, I was very young, and my life was "perfect". Although the term perfect is perhaps an exaggeration, I felt that I was in the best moment of my life. I had a wonderful man by my side, I was very successful professionally, and our income was excellent. So this diagnosis was the announcement of difficult times, and perhaps it would all be over without my realizing it.
Doctors always offer treatment options in the face of illness, but it is the patient who decides which path he or she wants to follow. On many occasions, this decision is a blind decision because doctors never tell you that they are 100% sure of success. When it was my turn to decide what to do and how to face this health situation, despite being very afraid, I took a step forward and opted to undergo surgery with no guarantees, since only when I woke up would I know if there would be total removal or not.
I mentally prepared myself for two possible scenarios. One unfavorable and the other with a happy ending. However, if the outcome had been unfavorable, I had the conviction to go down that road in the best possible way. How can this be achieved? I had to look back at the valuable things I had in my life, and I decided to enjoy them to the fullest for the time I had left...much or little, but I would do it happily! Would optimism eliminate the disease from my life? Maybe not, but it would not fill my last days with sad days.
I learned that anything can happen and that you have to look difficulties in the face and not run away from them. From a simple point of view, I knew that I would live new experiences... and I was not wrong!
Many years have passed, and the thought that "something good must come out of life experiences" led me to change my lifestyle. I stopped living to work, became a mother, and focused my profession on promoting healthy lifestyles.
Will being optimistic ward off the specter of illness? Of course not! Being optimistic does not imply being delusional, but every painful experience has allowed me to know my weaknesses and strengthen them to be able to get through the difficulties faster. I have been able to appreciate the immense love my family has for me, and I try to repay them day by day by sharing quality time with them. I was able to find the "meaning" of my life.
Although everyone lives their processes to face adversities, I am certain that thinking optimistically helps you to enter the dark tunnel of adversities with the conviction that you will get out of it, dissipating fear and despair along the way.
Perhaps after these reflections, I can suggest you embrace OPTIMISM as one of our New Year's resolutions to start 2023 with a more positive outlook. Optimism can be that prism that leads you to see the finer side of life...despite the adversities.
we can control is how we react to them"
Saludos amiga, hace mucho que no pasaba por tu blog, la verdad estaba desaparecida de hive... Estos meses han pasado muchas cosas, unas buenas otras no tanto... Pero leer tu post me ha abierto los ojos, y puedo decir que estos 6 meses los he afrontado con optimismo. Me encanta tu filosofía de vida, algo bueno tiene que salir de todo esto: aprendizaje. Te mando un fuerte abrazo. Estoy de vuelta en hive.
Holaaaaaaaaa @lamamadejeremias, qué grata sopresa poder leerte. Gracias por tu lindo comentario. Me elegra mucho que hayas logrado disipar algunos asuntos para ponerte al día en Hive. Como dicen por allí "al mal paso hay que darle prisa", y es allí donde el optimismo (junto a otras emociones) nos ayudan a superar de forma más rápida loas dificultades y evita que quedemos atrapados en ellas.
Y fíjate algo bueno salió de este post...pude saber de ti y sobre todo sentir que estás animada por volver a compartir en la blockchain. Estaré atenta a leerte. te envío un abrazo inmenso y miles de bendiciones a tu angelito en casa ❤️
Greetings, your experience serves as inspiration for many women who go through similar situations, how nice that you share it with us, the fact that you didn't let the problems bring you down is admirable, thank you for your beautiful publication.
Oh I am grateful for this nice comment. Actually sometimes we have the opportunity to decide how we want to face difficulties, it can be from pessimism and from optimism. I faithfully believe that our thoughts are magnets that can attract negative or positive energies, so why not bet on optimism?
Thank you very much for stopping by! 😃
Dear @chaodietas 💓 thank you for sharing your personal experience, it is very true what you say, everyone handles their emotions to the warning in a different way, in your case you handled it in a masterful way, you did not let that diagnosis mark the course of your life. With optimism you hoped for the best and thanks to that and the support of your family you overcame the disease.
On our behalf we applaud you because you are a brave woman. You were able to get out of the dark tunnel in which you mentioned that adversities lead us, although it was not easy, you did it. Thank you for supporting the theme of the month 😍.
Hi @hive-102879,
These are beautiful words, I feel honored with your comment. Actually there are many people going through moments that make them lose hope and optimism, that is why it is important to support them.
In my case, this was one of the milestones that put me at a crossroads: deciding how I wanted to die or how I wanted to live the days of health that life gave me. From here I have tried to learn to manage my emotions to make the most of the experiences I have lived in the extended time that God has given me. I am very grateful! 🌻
The rewards earned on this comment will go directly to the people( @chaodietas ) sharing the post on Twitter as long as they are registered with @poshtoken. Sign up at https://hiveposh.com.