I’ve been working diligently at STRUT Learning for almost a year. Time sure flies by when you’re enjoying yourself! When I first joined the team as an intern, I decided to take the Social Emotional Learning Diagnostic Assessment, or SELDA, to learn more about myself. After finishing the assessment and receiving my results, I saw that the area that needed most improvement was having an optimistic outlook.
An optimistic outlook is an attitude of relying on and trusting oneself, believing in positive outcomes for the future, and believing that effort will affect change and growth. From the smallest inconveniences to bigger and stressful events, I struggled with staying positive in those situations and often felt worse about myself. So just like how I decided to take SELDA, I decided to work towards looking on the brighter side of things.
One of the biggest things I did for myself to be more optimistic was learning how to react to rejection. Rather than react defeated or with feelings of self-loathing, I reframed the rejection as a learning opportunity, as a sign that something is waiting for me that might be better. At first, it was hard to just accept the rejection and I often regressed back into those thoughts of inadequacy. As I continued to face rejection left and right, it became easier and almost second nature to accept that I wasn’t moving forward with these applications. But I was still moving forward in the sense that I was growing and developing myself personally.
It turns out that working on one particular skill does not only help you grow in that area but also reaches into other areas as well. My looking at life with more optimism spread into my relationships, into making decisions, and managing my actions. After a small fight with my significant other, I was able to reflect and talk it out with him instead of automatically thinking everything is ruined. If I made the wrong decision or choice one day at work, I reflected, moved on and made sure to do better the next time. I became better at managing how I behave in situations. All because I made the decision to have a more optimistic outlook.
Change is difficult especially when it requires the change to come from within. But change is worth it when it exponentially makes you feel like you’re doing good for yourself and for others. The first step is recognizing what needs to be done and taking action.
Take SELDA today at eq123.org!
