Okay, tonight has been amazing and I want to thank each and every one of you for hanging out with @lanejane and I. We have had a blast and I hope you have too. Here is a summary from we we chatted about tonight! And remember if youre feeling down and want to contiue a chat, you can head onto the other forums to hang out or perhaps talk about tough times!!   SUMMARY   The glass half full concept can not always be applied to every situation. Sometimes, the glass is literally half full of water and air. We have raised the point about sometimes things are just the way they are. Hope is another term that can be used along side optimism. Or perhaps optimism is our perceptions and attitude towards our individual thoughts. Balance and resiliency are also very important. "And why do we sometimes have negative thoughts? Because we have expectations and the life doesn't always go with our expectations.”  Being optimistic can be hard work, but it’s worth it. Sometimes its easier to be optimistic for other people, than for yourself.  Benefits of optimism: happier, productive, mentally healthier, reduces workload, helpful in seeing the bright side, benefiting self esteem  "- you can get more done with a positive mind - it motivates you because you think oh I can do this and look ahead. “   "Smile at the world and the world smiles back at you!   Not everything in life is always positive or happy! if it was... how would you even know what positive was. You need to good and the bad to find balance. If you've been let down in the past when you have been optimistic it can sometimes be hard to get into a positive mind set again. Naturally, you feel let down!  Everyone is different, everyone sees the world differently and everyone is at a different stage in their journey through life  The word "pessimistic" has a really negative connotation on it. If you're never pessimistic, how can you ever be optimistic? gotta have both for either to exist. To pick yourself up when feeling pessimistic:  you come to reachout when you're feeling pessimistic too! That's positive. We can always find something good   “imagine if you went to get a coke from a vending machine and a lemonade came out every time. in the end you would not be very optimistic about using vending machines”   Don't stress if you're optimistic about something and it doesn't quite work out... sometimes stuff is just "bad luck" and it doesn't mean you're a bad person. We all get let down occasionally! Remember you have friends and family that can help you out if it is getting hard to find the postives sometimes!!! And finally... A summary of our amazing pictures and a couple of others I added in! Thanks guys, have an amazing night AND we will see you at the same time, next monday night!!           ... View more

YAY! @FootyFan26 welcome back! ... View more

HAHA definitely three types of people in this world!!!!! ... View more

@lanejane hahahaha this is me like 95% of the time! I am so guilty of it!! ... View more

CHEESE <3 <3 @j95 @lanejane ... View more

Good points @lanejane using your social networks can be very important and useful as well!!!!!! and when you fail, just try again! ... View more

Awesome responses and perspective guys... were coming to the last few questions, so I want to know... 7. What advice would you give to someone who wants to become more optimistic? ... View more

@j95 awesome ideas about picking yourself up!! ... View more

@FootyFan26 Please stay safe, and remember we are here to support you. If you're felling better come back later and hang out on the forums. thinking of you!!! ... View more

hahahah love your vending machine analogy @lanejane!!!!!! ... View more

@FootyFan26 , I admit , i am not a very optimistic person either! Like i said, thats okay too! And being optimistic or pessimistic doesn't dictate how good of a person you are! there are so many other factors that play into it!! its never black and white :) ... View more

@Sveto , its great your life is that way and I'm happy for you that it is working well :) ... View more

@FootyFan26 you're definitely not a bad person!!! Everyone is different, and thats what makes us special... We can all have varying opinions, it makes us unique and keeps things interesting! haha ... View more

Loove it and Frozen @lanejane ... View more

BUT.... 4. Some people aren't really big fans of optimism, saying that it’s an unrealistic way of looking at life. What do you think about this idea? Why do you think that is? ... View more

@FootyFan26 awesome pros of optimism ... View more

What do you think would be some of the benefits of practicing optimism?? I think some of the benefits are it can keep things happy and positive !! ... View more

Welcome @j95 !! ... View more

SOOOOO.... Even if you aren't really the optimistic type... 3. What do you think would be some of the benefits of practicing optimism?? ... View more

@AllyJane , good point! Sometimes its easier to be optimistic for other people, than for yourself. ... View more

@lanejane, i try to be, but sometimes you can't always be.. and thats OK ... View more

@SanguineSally , very true!!! sometimes being grateful is important ... View more

@Sveto , awesome perspective! It is about our perception ... View more

Love the picture @lanejane! Hey everyone I am excited to chat tonight about optimism. optimism doesn't always mean a glass half full. Sometimes it is just about having a brighter perspective about things in your own life! ... View more

Awesome points guys, I think it is important to also mention to keep the conversation light! While it is important to be serious, you don't want them feeling like they are a burden or something bad! talking about OTHER random stuff is also important. like their day, or whatever you usually talk about ... View more

Yup @AllyJane! definitely agree! you don't want to be pushing them so hard incase you make them feel guilty about not taking any action yet! ... View more

The final step of our conversation is to follow up with that person later. Even though ‘R U OK?’ day is only one day a year, it’s important that we look out for our mates and family throughout the year – just as they should look out for us. If someone has confided in you about something, what are some ways that you can follow up with them, or even help them out with their action plan? Totally agree that this shouldn't only be one day year! while it is good for promotion, unfortunately we all cannot have a problem only one day of the year haha it just doesn't work like that! i think CONSISTENCY is key. Don't message then once then never reply to them! you don't want to be pushy, just consistent. Ask them how they're going. Make sure you stay actively in their life and still hang out with them. even if you don't have to talk about whats going on, just making them feel supported and loved ... View more

Yup!! @Randomness the simple things also really help! Just being supported and having good company can make a world of difference. especially if they are feeling alone or isolated!! ... View more

The third step of the ‘R U OK?’ conversation is encouraging action. That doesn’t mean that we have to know the answers to their problems, but it does mean we have to be willing to offer support to them and help them think of ideas that may help them bring themselves into a better headspace. What are some things that we can suggest to someone going through a hard time that may help them? Coming on here would be a great start! Letting them know what is available... even doing a simple google search and actually giving them numbers is helpful. sometimes someone going through a tough time can find it hard to find motivation to seek out information. ... View more

Yup @j95 someone who needs help wants to feel hear but not 'special' or 'different' sometimes you just want to be understood :) and like what you say is in a safe place ... View more