Lower stress levels: Optimists not only experience less stress, but they also cope with it better. ![]() Longer lifespan: Studies have shown that optimistic people tend to live longer than pessimists.Better health outcomes: A meta-analysis of 83 studies found that optimism played a significant role in health outcomes for cardiovascular disease, cancer, pain, physical symptoms and mortality.Some of the many advantages of optimism that researchers have discovered include: There are a number of benefits to becoming a more optimistic person. When you feel your problems are permanent, pervasive and personal, it can lead to feelings of overwhelm, helplessness and depression. Problems are a part of life (suffering is optional). We take it personally and think that somehow, if we were XYZ (good enough) we would magically not have these “problems.” It’s not you and it’s not personal. If we were smarter, prettier, stronger, if we lived over there, if we had this family, if we were taller, thinner, richer, then we wouldn’t be in this situation. It’s not true, we have our health, our relationships, and tons of other things. We think that because our finances are destroyed that our whole life is ruined. Pervasive: It’s not pervasive, but sometimes we react as if it is.Nothing is permanent life is constant change. When things are bad, we feel like it will be bad forever. When things are good, we think they will be good forever. Dr Martin Seligman’s 3 tips to Learned Optimism By challenging negative self-talk and replacing pessimistic thoughts with more positive ones, people can learn how to become more optimistic. It is often contrasted with learned helplessness. Learned optimism involves developing the ability to view the world from a positive point of view. According to Dr Seligman, the process of learning to be optimistic is an important way to help people maximize their mental health and live better lives. With a more joyful outlook on life, he explains that we’re in a much better position to enhance our well-being. It is a concept from positive psychology’s founding father, Dr Martin Seligman, which argues that we can cultivate a positive perspective. Essentially, they’re able to see the glass half full instead of half empty.Ĭan you learn to have a positive outlook? And if you could…how would that change your life? What is Learned Optimism? The key difference between people who are happy and those who are not, is that happy people lean more towards optimism. ![]() Our brains pick up negative information faster than positive information because we are wired to protect ourselves. If you want to lead life from a ‘glass half full’ perspective, then read on to learn more. This piece is about the concept of Learned Optimism and its benefits on enhancing our well-being. If that fails, just make friends with an optimist – that helps, too.Can you learn to have a positive outlook? And if you could…how would that change your life? Try reframing the explanations for what happens so that the answer isn’t always that it’s your fault. ![]() Tips include keeping a diary of things for which you feel grateful and persisting at solving problems instead of feeling it’s all too difficult. But while a physiological pathway for the benefits of optimism may be hard to find, learning it is easier. It is hypothesised (without much evidence) that optimists feel less negativity and so produce fewer bursts of stress-related hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline that could increase blood pressure. They lead healthier lives because they believe it will benefit them. The research finds that optimists don’t just expect good things will happen – they actively take steps to make them happen. Women who were optimists beforehand also coped better with the disappointment of failed IVF. In people with head and neck cancer, the more optimistic reported a better quality of life regardless of the stage of the condition. A study from the University of Illinois of more than 5,100 people found that those who were most optimistic were twice as likely to have a good “cardiovascular score” based on criteria such as cholesterol and glucose levels, physical activity, blood pressure and weight.Īnd it seems optimism doesn’t set people up for disappointment – studies show it provides resilience against distress. This study joins a host of others including a meta analysis of more than 80 studies that associate optimism with better health. Optimism is considered a personality trait – a belief that life is likely to turn out well as opposed to badly and optimists will expect good outcomes even when life is tough. Levels were measured by asking the women how optimistic they felt on a scale of zero to 24.
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