Common Triggers
- →Receiving good news
- →Achieving a personal goal
- →Starting a new relationship
- →Planning for future events
- →Experiencing success in a project
- →Hearing positive stories or experiences from others
Physical Sensations
- •Warmth in the chest
- •Lightness in the body
- •Increased energy
- •Smiling or laughing
- •Feeling of expansion in the heart area
- •Euphoric tingling
Plutchik's Emotion Wheel
optimism
Working with This Emotion
Recognize
Optimism can be recognized by a sense of lightness, warmth in the chest, and a smile on your face. You might feel excited or elated about future possibilities. Words like 'amazing,' 'beautiful,' 'blessed,' and 'ecstatic' often come to mind when you’re feeling optimistic.
Understand
Optimism is commonly triggered by positive news, personal achievements, setting new goals, and supportive relationships. It can also arise from a general belief in the goodness of life and a sense of trust in the future.
Label
To label optimism, focus on the specific feelings of hopefulness and confidence about the future. Distinguish it from similar emotions like joy by noting the forward-looking aspect of optimism. Joy is more immediate and present-focused, while optimism looks ahead with positive expectations.
Express
Healthy ways to express optimism include sharing your hopeful thoughts with others, setting and working towards goals, and engaging in activities that bring you joy and a sense of purpose. Celebrate small wins and practice gratitude to maintain an optimistic outlook.
Regulate
When feeling overly optimistic or needing to balance unrealistic expectations, ground yourself by acknowledging both positive and realistic aspects of a situation. Practice mindfulness to stay present, and use journaling to reflect on your thoughts and feelings. Seek support from trusted friends or mentors if you need a reality check.
Co-occurring Emotions
Emotions that frequently appear alongside optimism, based on the NRC Emotion Lexicon.
Associated Words
Words associated with optimism from the NRC Emotion Lexicon.
Using Inner
Use Inner to track patterns of optimism by journaling about moments when you feel hopeful and confident. Notice the physical sensations that accompany these feelings, such as warmth in your chest or a lightness in your step. Set reminders to reflect on what triggers your optimism, whether it’s positive news or personal achievements. Practice gratitude exercises to cultivate more optimistic thoughts and emotions. When feeling less optimistic, use Inner to explore why and try strategies like reframing negative thoughts or focusing on small wins.
Try Inner for FreeSources & References
- —RULER Framework (Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence)
- —Plutchik's Wheel of Emotions
- —Geneva Emotion Wheel
- —Lisa Feldman Barrett - How Emotions Are Made
Related Content
Confidence
The feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something.
Happiness
A state of well-being and contentment.
Anticipation
The emotion of looking forward to something.
Positive Reframing
Finding the silver lining or growth opportunity in a difficult situation.
Secure Attachment
A pattern of relating characterized by comfort with intimacy, interdependence, and trust.
The Self
The archetype of wholeness and the regulating center of the psyche.