Optimists Live Better Lives
Posted on
Nov 30, 2021
Optimistic people live longer and have a better quality of life! They are happier, healthier, and deal with challenges better. According to a 2018 Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) study, women and men who are optimistic have longer lifespans and greater odds of reaching 85 years old. These people are believed to be more resilient, better able to regulate stressors, and to bounce from adversity. They also tend to be healthier, and engage in self-care such as exercise and ultimately believe they can affect their own well-being.
Optimism is hopefulness and confidence that the world is a good place and that things will turn out ok. It is not wishful or fantasy thinking. The idea that it isnt what happens to you but how you respond to what happens to you is the ultimate Optimist mantra, and research supports this. According to the BUSM (and many others) the benefits of being an optimist include:
Protects against mortality
Promotes resilient aging and longer life span
Improves ones ability to beat cancer
Creates overall better health and more enjoyment
Improves stress management.
Brains are wired to look out for things that may put us in danger, creating a pattern of pessimistic perceptions that have kept us safe for thousands of years. However, Martin Seligman, a psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania, believes optimism can be learned. He found that people who learned optimism techniques were less likely to develop depression, anxiety and enjoyed improved overall health. You CAN build Optimism through:
Deciding to be Optimistic-Make a commitment to see the bright side.
Thought Stopping Techniques-When you feel anxiety or have negative thoughts learn to stop your thoughts in that instant.
Replacement Thoughts-Find something positive that you can commit to thinking about when you are feeling anxious or down.
Gratitude List - Make a list of all the little things that are good in your life.
Avoid Negativity-Limit yourself from being around people or things that bring you down.
Change the subject-When someone is stuck on the negative redirect to the positive.
Give compliments-Saying something positive to another or to yourself
Need help growing your optimism? Give us a call.
This article was submitted by April Boykin, she is an Owner/Social Worker with Counseling resource services who can be reached at 407-654-4433 or by email at april@counselingresourceservices.com
Optimism is hopefulness and confidence that the world is a good place and that things will turn out ok. It is not wishful or fantasy thinking. The idea that it isnt what happens to you but how you respond to what happens to you is the ultimate Optimist mantra, and research supports this. According to the BUSM (and many others) the benefits of being an optimist include:
Protects against mortality
Promotes resilient aging and longer life span
Improves ones ability to beat cancer
Creates overall better health and more enjoyment
Improves stress management.
Brains are wired to look out for things that may put us in danger, creating a pattern of pessimistic perceptions that have kept us safe for thousands of years. However, Martin Seligman, a psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania, believes optimism can be learned. He found that people who learned optimism techniques were less likely to develop depression, anxiety and enjoyed improved overall health. You CAN build Optimism through:
Deciding to be Optimistic-Make a commitment to see the bright side.
Thought Stopping Techniques-When you feel anxiety or have negative thoughts learn to stop your thoughts in that instant.
Replacement Thoughts-Find something positive that you can commit to thinking about when you are feeling anxious or down.
Gratitude List - Make a list of all the little things that are good in your life.
Avoid Negativity-Limit yourself from being around people or things that bring you down.
Change the subject-When someone is stuck on the negative redirect to the positive.
Give compliments-Saying something positive to another or to yourself
Need help growing your optimism? Give us a call.
This article was submitted by April Boykin, she is an Owner/Social Worker with Counseling resource services who can be reached at 407-654-4433 or by email at april@counselingresourceservices.com