How important is an optimistic mentality during/after service?

I've tried life happy
I've tried life sad
I've tried life angry
I've tried life glad
Happy and glad rock, sad and angry suck.
But no matter what... life marches on.

I think that it is a no bullshit make or break characteristic. Without optimism, it is possible that everything will drag you down. There are plenty of opportunities for things to get messed up while you are in the military; there are possibly even more after you get out, especially depending on how it is you end up getting out. I was always very optimistic during my service; at least up until the last couple of years. Those last few years, everything fell apart. I believe that my attitude definitely played a part in how it went down too. Not everything of course, but I don't think that it made even the little things any better.

I am a strict believer, these days, that it is paramount to approach everything with optimism. If not optimism, then at least don't allow anything to bog you down. Too often we have something bad occur and it ruins your entire outlook on life, it drags you down and causes you to begin to overthink and stress out about things that may not even be remotely connected. I've been homeless since I left the army, been an alcoholic, on drugs, suicidal, all sorts of horrible things and it was because I wasn't looking at anything optimistically; there was always a way for things to get worse but no light ever. Well, if you believe that then it is probably going to work that way. It becomes a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy.

These days, I don't stress about anything. Am I broke? Ok, well, looks like I'll figure out how to make it until next payday. Does something happen at school that messes everything up? Ok, well, looks like I will work twice as hard next time. Is there a hypothetical situation that may occur and cause me to be put in a horrible situation? Well, it may happen, but it may not. Why should I freak out about something that may not even happen?

Don't get stressed out. What happens is going to happen. Work towards the good stuff but don't let the bad stuff bring you down. Ruining your mood is not going to improve anything, at all, ever. There is nothing constructive about a piss poor attitude.

I think during service you HAVE to be optimistic otherwise you’ll just hate every single day you’re at work. Initially, I was so hung ho and wanted to do everything in the army. When I had my son, my priorities changed but the Army did not acknowledge that- of course the mission always comes first right? But not for me. So here I am now a little over a year out from my ETS and I couldn’t be more elated but I’m also faking it til I make it every day. When I get out I can promise you I’ll be more optimistic than I am now. All in all, if you keep your head right, you’re good.