I’ve successfully transformed my mother (or rather, helped her transform herself) into an optimist from a snarky, grumpy, panicky pessimist.

Start small. I’d say work on several themes, a little at a time:

Cultivate your sense of humor; let it thrive!

Cultivate compassion. When you can see things from another’s point of view, and understand or imagine what it must be like for them, it’s much harder to be angry or cynical about their behavior.

Cultivate your sense of beauty. Find the beautiful things among the ordinary. Make lists of the gorgeousness around you; even just one thing a day.

You can also meditate on joyous themes—meditation is a way of letting a theme soak into your mind to transform it. Meditate on joy, passion, beauty, compassion, &c., and in your mind tell whoever (the Universe, Deity, your Higher Self, Unconscious Mind, whatever you want to call it) that you are open to this idea.

And think positively. Find the good in a bad situation, even if it is unlikely or silly, and even if you don’t really believe it. The harder it is to find the good, the more rewarding it is when you do find it.

Start with this. It will likely be slow, but solid progress.

And don’t worry about meaning or purpose just yet. Don’t set yourself that kind of goal and then worry or feel pressured when you don’t know. It’s okay not to know. It’s okay to just live your life a little at a time and enjoy it just as it is.

Chances are, when you learn to enjoy things, your purpose will make itself known.

Good luck! And let me know how it goes!

Blessings,
Thalia