Living realistically positive is kind of like not having duct tape when you’re stranded on an island, having it isn’t crucial, but damn, it sure helps. 

We currently reside in a weird world of persistent positivity from some, and nagging negativity from the rest. I’m a huge proponent for the former if you’re going to be one or the other, but I thought I would give my two sense on spinning that unending positivity into realism.

“The pessimist looks down and hits his head.

The optimist looks up and loses his footing.

The realist looks forward and adjusts his path accordingly.”

– Robert Kirkman

First, let’s address the optimist’s side of this. I feel it is necessary to mention that there are studies showing the one trait that all “incredibly successful people possess” is OPTIMISM. (Read more about this on inc.com from Jeff Haden’s article here.)

Hoping and striving for greater things is completely normal, and could even be alluding to your future success. It breeds the desire for more. The desire for better, stronger, faster….[insert other Kanye West song lyrics now].

Yet it’s fascinating that in our world of idolizing celebrities with vacation homes and following “highlight reel” social media pages brimming with trips and cars and homes that we still find ourselves living unfulfilled lives.

Could it be the fact that we all want to show off our lives online is also simply the lowest common denominator to doing all the cool, amazing things we possibly can? If that’s your motivation, then by all means, do it, follow it, be motivated by it.

Who knows. The biggest thing for me when it comes to living positively as a realist, is to go do the shit I want and trust that the rest will fall into place.

But that’s the hard part, right? I remember when I first started all of “this“; whether it was after living through my little fall or moving to Colorado or recently taking three months off to live the nomad life between Minnesota, Missouri, Texas and Florida, I did it because I wanted to. I was optimistic about the outcome and was a realist in the actions to get there.

The biggest thing for me was getting the balls to take action. So, one day, in December of 2015, I just went.

I packed my car up. I started driving. I minimized my expenses. I wrote. I read. I started spending time in the places I’d always wanted to spend time.

I was positive about it and I was real about it.

What that immediately taught me was that there is a never truly a right time for anything.

Example. There are individuals I know who are ultra organized, never procrastinate on a project and have every detail of their life planned…yet find themselves diligently putting in time at a job/school they don’t like, just stuck waiting for “the right time” to go for their big time goals.

I think we all know an instance we waited for the “right time”.

How many of those instances where it was finally the “right time” did we wish we had done it way sooner? Where we told that person how we felt immediately or traveled when it seemed like we had no money or bought something frivolous just because we wanted it right then and there.

Some of them, right? Maybe even most of them.

There is never truly a right time for anything. In my eyes, you either do it today or it’s just another day that you didn’t.

But hold on, I want to sloooow down a little bit because I’m coming off as motivational-ly and it’s bugging me. I’m just trying to be real (Ha, get it?)

Everybody has different leaps of faith they’re trying to realistically be positive about. In my case, it was that I wanted to travel around the country with my pooch, Niko, while being able to earn an income.

For transparency, here are the two ways I was a realist through my travels:

1. Putting funds aside for eventual retirement and planning for an untimely death, two things I do monthly, is something that’s important. The reason it’s important is so that my choice of lifestyle doesn’t screw over the people I love. Boom, put a little bit aside each month and your butt is covered. Sometimes money is tight, but I still do it.
2. Learn a trade and/or freelance online. When I was in high school, I picked up skills in construction and landscape. I also have a background in marketing. Now, no matter where I go, I have a means of income. So ladies and gents, dig some holes, sell the pictures you take, stack boxes, write books, mow lawns, shovel driveways…whatever it might be…there’s always a way to make money.

In summary, take these thoughts with you.

Be real. Understand that sometimes it’s your car that might get cut off in traffic or that it might rain on your parade or that your flight home gets canceled. Do what needs to be done to overcome the situation. If you can’t control anything, then suck it up and wait it out.

Be positive. Do things that positive people do like say affirmations and visualize items you plan to achieve. Smile at complete strangers. Encourage others. Being nice and being happy is a super simple aspect of living a good life.

And here we are. Brick by brick we’re all building something right?

I firmly believe being realistically positive is about having huge goals, making others happy as hell, working hard, and believing that what I do is making an impact in someone else’s life – even if it is just one person.

That, to me, is what it’s all about baby.

Kick some ass today.

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Dillon Pomeroy | (952) 836-5644 | dillonpomeroy@gmail.com