Importance of Perspective and Optimism in Life

Perspective and optimism together are an invaluable weapon to combat the negative in life. They get us out of bed in the morning and seep into even the most routine activities of the day. They brighten our interactions with others, deepen our appreciation for family and friends, and drive us to work harder. Perspective keeps us afloat when we experience disappointment, and reminds us that nothing is too big to overcome. Optimism helps us see the potential in unexpected situations, and recognize how adversity often pushes us closer to our dreams. Not only does optimism lead to individual achievement, but it also multiplies positive, sometimes unintended effects that touch the lives of others.

A key to maintaining hopefulness for the future in making the people around you feel like there is something in them. My best friend, Rylie, helps encourage and support my dreams. She was there for me when I was anxious about taking the ACT, she encouraged me to keep pursuing my dream of college volleyball, and was there to prepare me for my first interview. Surrounding myself around people like Rylie, who are super reassuring and positive, help me keep a positive outlook. She helps me keep joy in my life, rather than being overwhelmed by setbacks. Optimism to me is believing in yourself and maintaining a positive perspective on life. This outlook helps give me the confidence to be myself and express individuality, which results in making friendships with others who have an inner optimism. Also maintaining perspective helps you enjoy small experiences, like every year on opening weekend my family, grandparents, and I all went to Valas. I find joy in family and traditions, which allows my perspective to be more focused on the little things in life. Finding joy in small things, my life is made of small things, so I find excitement day to day rather than looking forward to the next big thing.

By keeping a healthy perspective in life and surrounding myself with supportive friends and family my optimism is fueled when things get hard. Ever since I the moment I started to pick up a volleyball, I knew it was what I was passionate about. When I started playing competitively, I played as an outside hitter, but was never good enough to be on the top team. For the longest time, I was frustrated that I was on the second team, but I didn’t realize the unexpected opportunity that I was granted. Every game, I was in for every single point and this helped me develop skills. These skills and experience is what college coaches noticed and helped me get to be the player I am today. These last few years, I have been able to get the opportunity to visit potential colleges where I could continue my career. Although, I used to dream about playing college volleyball at a division one school only to be disappointed. When I first started to reach out to college coaches, I didn’t get the feedback I was expecting. This lead to lots of doubts that crept into my mind. I would wonder if I would ever get that one phone call that would change my life. Then I started to change my mindset and had a more positive attitude. Looking on the sunny side everytime I stepped out onto the volleyball court helped me play with passion. Finally, one day I got that phone call after visiting a college campus. It seemed to be the first of many interactions with division one schools. The summer before my junior year, I finally made the decision to play college volleyball. Forgetting all the doubts of the past and focusing on achieving my dream to play competitive volleyball in college was the mindset I needed. After achieving one of my many goals by using a positive outlook and never giving up, I felt relieved and excited for what the future was going to hold.

Overall, optimism influences relationships with friends and family, helps us face adversity and lastly, encourages us to dream big. Optimism can make even the smallest accomplishments impactful, long lasting and fulfilling. Optimism and perspective can feed out hearts and souls, and give us peace and confidence on our path. A positive outlook on life can help you achieve your goals and even touch the lives of others.