When life throws you bad news the pessimist will take it as them at fault and them to blame. They assume bad news will ruin everything and act as if it will last forever. On the other hand, the optimist will take bad news and look for the good in the situation, make the most out of the learning experience and be confident everything will pass.
It may be life-changing to strive towards becoming more optimistic because research has found many benefits.
Studies from the U.S. and Europe have found not only are optimistic people happier, but they will also have better overall and long term health.
“Research tells us that an optimistic outlook early in life can predict better health and a lower rate of death during follow-up periods of 15 to 40 years.”
A comprehensive medical evaluation, over the span of 30 years, found that optimism was linked to a better outcome in eight different measures of physical and mental health functions.
Overall, a common explanation for this is many optimists have better health behaviors. This includes a clearer mindset when making decisions, the ability to build stronger social support systems, and taking better care of their physical and mental health. Some studies even show that optimistic people are more likely to partake in exercise and are less likely to smoke and drink.
At CARAVAN our life-changing skills, techniques and rituals can guide you towards discovering a more optimistic outlook. Click here to try our Positivity Series.
Reference
Harvard Health Publishing. “Optimism and Your Health.” Harvard Health