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You Can be an Optimist: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life
Do you want to stop thinking negatively? Are you looking for greater happiness and more confidence?
Optimism is an attitude that sets us up for life success by helping us focus on what works and how we contribute to what works. Optimistic people have more fun, are healthier and achieve more of their potential. Optimistic thinking is a skill that anyone can learn. In this simple easy-to-use book, Lucy Macdonald will show you how to harness the power of optimism to help you create a more positive, upbeat attitude to life.
The book contains 20 specially devised exercises that include simple practices such as journaling, visualisation, affirmations and simple physical exercises.
With its foundations in scientific principals of cognitive behaviour, You Can Be An Optimist will show you how
Boost your optimism
Recognise and deal with problems as they arise
Stop being negative and nurture a positive outlook
Deal with stress and increase your motivation
Be happier and more successful
This book will help you to plug into the power of optimism, improve your health and create happiness for yourself and those around you.
Optimism is an attitude that sets us up for life success by helping us focus on what works and how we contribute to what works. Optimistic people have more fun, are healthier and achieve more of their potential. Optimistic thinking is a skill that anyone can learn. In this simple easy-to-use book, Lucy Macdonald will show you how to harness the power of optimism to help you create a more positive, upbeat attitude to life.
The book contains 20 specially devised exercises that include simple practices such as journaling, visualisation, affirmations and simple physical exercises.
With its foundations in scientific principals of cognitive behaviour, You Can Be An Optimist will show you how
Boost your optimism
Recognise and deal with problems as they arise
Stop being negative and nurture a positive outlook
Deal with stress and increase your motivation
Be happier and more successful
This book will help you to plug into the power of optimism, improve your health and create happiness for yourself and those around you.
160 pages, Paperback
First published December 24, 2013
26 people are currently reading
367 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 31, 2022
honestly, i should’ve read this book in high school. a great read with a lot of insight for someone who is a massive pessimist (which, i am not at all, at least not since high school). for me, it was a refresher on optimism, but there wasn’t any revolutionary information that i hadn’t known before cracking this open.
ALSO, really did not like how the exercises interjected the text. it was really distracting and honestly, i wanted to just glaze over the activities as to not lose my train of thought. not my cup of tea
tldr; a good read for a notorious pessimist. if you’re an optimist, i wouldn’t suggest picking this up.
ALSO, really did not like how the exercises interjected the text. it was really distracting and honestly, i wanted to just glaze over the activities as to not lose my train of thought. not my cup of tea
tldr; a good read for a notorious pessimist. if you’re an optimist, i wouldn’t suggest picking this up.
September 25, 2019
I probably enjoyed this book more than most people would because I had to study a lot of the research MacDonald cited while I was in grad school. So I was kind of nerding out while I read.
I like how the book is organized into short snippets of life areas where we may need to re-wire our thoughts and concrete exercises to help with this. This is no pie-in-the-sky book. It is real exercises backed up by real research.
I like how the book is organized into short snippets of life areas where we may need to re-wire our thoughts and concrete exercises to help with this. This is no pie-in-the-sky book. It is real exercises backed up by real research.
June 21, 2015
I found this book at the Airbnb I'm staying at in Hobart. Spent my nights here with it. There are alot of self help books here. And this ones pretty good.
Interesting viewpoints of pessimism, something new I've learned from being an annoyingly optimistic person.
Interesting viewpoints of pessimism, something new I've learned from being an annoyingly optimistic person.
February 15, 2015
More useful and practical than I expected it to be.
June 8, 2015
Great book especially for those like me who were victims of depression and anxiety.
January 20, 2017
Really enjoyed it - am now working on the exercises which are really helpful
February 19, 2025
The book offers nothing new if you are already through some Self help. Even for new, inadequate.
"You Can Be an Optimist: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life" by Lucy MacDonald is a practical guide designed to help readers cultivate a more optimistic outlook through actionable strategies and exercises. Rooted in principles of cognitive behavioral therapy, the book emphasizes that optimism is a skill that can be developed to enhance overall well-being and success.
**Key Themes and Strategies:**
1. **Understanding Optimism:**
- **Definition and Benefits:** Optimism involves focusing on what works well and recognizing one's contributions to those successes. Optimistic individuals often experience greater enjoyment, better health, and a higher realization of their potential.
- **Learned Skill:** MacDonald posits that optimistic thinking is not innate but can be cultivated through conscious effort and practice.
2. **Practical Exercises:**
- **Journaling:** Maintaining an optimism journal helps in reflecting on positive experiences and reinforcing a constructive mindset.
- **Visualization:** Imagining successful outcomes can boost confidence and motivation.
- **Affirmations:** Regularly reciting positive statements can counteract negative self-talk and build self-esteem.
- **Physical Activities:** Engaging in regular exercise contributes to both mental and physical health, supporting an optimistic outlook.
3. **Addressing Challenges:**
- **Managing Setbacks:** The book offers strategies to handle difficulties by reframing thoughts and focusing on solutions rather than problems.
- **Stress Reduction:** Techniques such as relaxation exercises and mindfulness are recommended to manage stress effectively.
4. **Enhancing Relationships and Success:**
- **Interpersonal Optimism:** Cultivating a positive attitude can improve relationships by fostering better communication and understanding.
- **Professional Growth:** An optimistic mindset is linked to increased motivation and success in the workplace.
By integrating these approaches, "You Can Be an Optimist" serves as a comprehensive resource for individuals seeking to transform their thinking patterns and, consequently, their lives. The emphasis on practical application makes it accessible for readers aiming to implement positive changes in their daily routines.
"You Can Be an Optimist: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life" by Lucy MacDonald is a practical guide designed to help readers cultivate a more optimistic outlook through actionable strategies and exercises. Rooted in principles of cognitive behavioral therapy, the book emphasizes that optimism is a skill that can be developed to enhance overall well-being and success.
**Key Themes and Strategies:**
1. **Understanding Optimism:**
- **Definition and Benefits:** Optimism involves focusing on what works well and recognizing one's contributions to those successes. Optimistic individuals often experience greater enjoyment, better health, and a higher realization of their potential.
- **Learned Skill:** MacDonald posits that optimistic thinking is not innate but can be cultivated through conscious effort and practice.
2. **Practical Exercises:**
- **Journaling:** Maintaining an optimism journal helps in reflecting on positive experiences and reinforcing a constructive mindset.
- **Visualization:** Imagining successful outcomes can boost confidence and motivation.
- **Affirmations:** Regularly reciting positive statements can counteract negative self-talk and build self-esteem.
- **Physical Activities:** Engaging in regular exercise contributes to both mental and physical health, supporting an optimistic outlook.
3. **Addressing Challenges:**
- **Managing Setbacks:** The book offers strategies to handle difficulties by reframing thoughts and focusing on solutions rather than problems.
- **Stress Reduction:** Techniques such as relaxation exercises and mindfulness are recommended to manage stress effectively.
4. **Enhancing Relationships and Success:**
- **Interpersonal Optimism:** Cultivating a positive attitude can improve relationships by fostering better communication and understanding.
- **Professional Growth:** An optimistic mindset is linked to increased motivation and success in the workplace.
By integrating these approaches, "You Can Be an Optimist" serves as a comprehensive resource for individuals seeking to transform their thinking patterns and, consequently, their lives. The emphasis on practical application makes it accessible for readers aiming to implement positive changes in their daily routines.
February 12, 2021
Many volumes promise to do what this book actually does. I found it to be as beneficial as a series of conversations with a favorite aunt who is also a psychologist and life coach might be, and am now re-reading it to take full advantage of the suggestions. The book is a small volume, just 157 pages which are visually appealing and offer just the right amount of text. Not one paragraph is filler or hyperbolic sales talk- it's all common sense, thoroughly developed and expressed. There are short tests you can use to assess your current outlook, exercises to do to increase your positive thoughts and disrupt old negative ones, and insights from history that keep you inspired. It's quite helpful and comforting, and I wish I could get certain other pessimists I know to read it. Thank you, Lucy MacDonald, for the thoughtful way you put together this helpful book!
August 22, 2021
Some really good points in this book — from optimizing your mental health to problem-solving at work. The book offers different modes of thinking which I am sure will come in handy in tackling difficult situations.
October 4, 2025
Was given this book as a gift 10 years ago and should have read it then. I think I would have enjoyed it more at a different time of my life. I didn’t enjoy how there were exercises imbedded within the text as I felt it was distracting.
March 18, 2019
Not a bad book but some of the information was very repetitive. I like that she includes activities, though.
June 18, 2020
This is definitely better read in pieces as opposed to at one time. I've read parts of this book in the past and enjoyed it.
January 15, 2022
One of the best self-help books I've ever read, the most useful one for sure. It's the book I would recommend to anyone who seems like they need a boost
January 28, 2025
read this to help with anxiety but it made me more anxious. might be a me problem tho
dnf
February 27, 2025Dnf pg. 46
Știam că nu e pentru mine, dar am vrut să îi dau o șansă ca să văd dacă descopăr și ceva nou. Nu a fost cazul din păcate, cel puțin până în punctul unde am ajuns.
Știam că nu e pentru mine, dar am vrut să îi dau o șansă ca să văd dacă descopăr și ceva nou. Nu a fost cazul din păcate, cel puțin până în punctul unde am ajuns.
February 22, 2024
It’s a very simple book for someone starting out
It’s for a pessimistic and truly does not be in a good future life it’s not as great I feel like it’s washed down all this could be condensed into one chapter
It’s for a pessimistic and truly does not be in a good future life it’s not as great I feel like it’s washed down all this could be condensed into one chapter
October 12, 2022
Really was helpful for me
January 15, 2018
You Can be an Optimist is an interesting read filled with activities throughout the book to test your progression of optimism and to also see where you are with yourself. This book was very informing, although repetitive. I would recommend this book to people who are not optimistic and might need some guidance but also to those who are optimistic. I say this as it will remind those who are already more optimistic about the things they already know as well as give them some pointers about how to keep up with there positive self.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews