Start off as you mean to go on: Five reasons why optimism is awesome.

So, pessimism is quite popular at the moment. It's in the news ALL the time, it's frequently used by artists to give them "depth", and it's slowly becoming part of our daily routine. Well - fear no more! Here are the top five reasons why life can be pretty damn amazing...and why optimism needs to make a swift comeback.

First things first...You stop taking yourself so seriously!

Once you realise how vastly overrated "dignity" and "embarrassment" are, things can only get better. You are allowed to enjoy yourself, you know. Do something you love; dance around your room to your favourite song, or bake a skittle-cake...whatever you enjoy, just do it!*

(* unless it's illegal, obviously) 

Negativity will get you nowhere

So, ever had a coversation-starter like this?
"Hi, how's things?"
"Oh, you know...crap."


Is this you? Well then, get out of that mentality you fool! Next time someone asks you how you are, tell them things are actually pretty good. In fact they're better than good, they're downright awesome. Trust me, providing nothing horrific happens in the next ten seconds, then it'll definitely set you in the positive mindframe.

Taking joy in the little things

Okay, so I'm going to go a bit hippy on you now. Taking a more positive stance and you'll learn to appreciate the small things in life that simply make you happy. Can't really see it? Well, let me just give you a few examples: A hug from a friend when you're down, opening your curtains first thing in the morning to see the sunrise, or the ability to see an infinite amount of pictures of Johnny Depp/Robert Downey Jr/*insert attractive human here* simply by googling it...the list is endless.

 

Smiling = Happiness

 

Yep, not only does it make you look a lot more attractive than if you were frowning (or God forbid, doing the "duck face"), smiling actually releases serotonin in your brain - actually making you FEEL happier. (BAM science!)
On top of that, smiling is VERY infectious, and come on...what's nicer than making other people happy as well as yourself?

Bacon.

Bacon is the food of optimists. Spam is the food of pessimists (and people during WWII).

And there you have it! Now go, and be awesome.