Research shows that the sunny worldview has some very real benefits for your health and productivity. According to a study published in Clinical Psychology Review , optimism is closely linked to resilience.
Science also shows that those with an optimistic outlook tend to be more proactive when it comes to their health, have better cardiovascular health and a stronger immune system , earn a higher income and have more successful relationships.
A large study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health found that the most optimistic women were 30 percent less likely to die from any of the serious illnesses tracked during the 8-year time period, including cancer, heart disease and stroke.
In fact, there are many effective ways to adopt an optimistic mindset. Experts refer to the tactic as "positive reframing. Often, he will reply that he did end up spending time indoors relaxing, reading or cuddling up to somebody he loves.
After a while, this will become effortless, a more automatic and optimistic frame of mind. Making this conscious effort not only shifts your viewpoint in the short term, but it may actually train your brain to think more positively. We all have those friends who are chronic complainers or gossipers. After spending a few hours with them we find ourselves jumping on the Debby Downer bandwagon. Having a happy spouse, friend or neighbor who lives within a mile of you increases the probability that you will be happy as well.
If you start connecting to people who are optimistic and grounded in life, you will start to be affected by their positive energy," says Ward. The more you spend time with negativity, the more negative you are bound to feel.
I typically recommend allowing yourself just enough time to learn the news, after which I suggest that you turn off the media and instead spend time doing activities that help maintain your health and a positive outlook. If you feel a need to process the current state of political or world affairs, you may want to consider having a healthy discussion about it with a friend or family member; this still allows you to absorb the information but can also offer you a good level of discourse and balanced views on the news.
Researchers define gratitude as the appreciation of what is valuable and meaningful to oneself, or a general state of thankfulness — no doubt a mental state that fosters an optimistic outlook. But it can be easier said than done to remain grateful throughout day to-day stressors.
A smart way to ease into it is by journaling, a popular technique for cultivating gratitude that takes just minutes each day. At the end of each day, they will write down one or two things that they experienced or witnessed during the day that filled them with gratitude, says Iyer. Expressive writing: Improving optimism, purpose, and resilience writing and gratitude.
Innov Aging. Online positive affect journaling in the improvement of mental distress and well-being in general medical patients with elevated anxiety symptoms: A preliminary randomized controlled trial. Optimism and its impact on mental and physical well-being. Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health. The development and prediction of athletic performance in freestyle swimming. J Hum Kinet. Driessen E, Hollon SD.
Cognitive behavioral therapy for mood disorders: Efficacy, moderators and mediators. Psychiatr Clin North Am. Optimism, social support, and mental health outcomes in patients with advanced cancer. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellMind. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification.
I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. What Is Optimism? How Do You Know? Explanatory Styles. How to Practice. Impact of Optimism. Potential Pitfalls. Press Play for Advice On Resilience Hosted by Editor-in-Chief and therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast , featuring legendary composer and talk show host John Tesh, shares how to motivate yourself when you're struggling, how to use visualization in a helpful way, and the one kind of list everyone should create for themselves.
How Do Psychologists Define Happiness? Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. What are your concerns? Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles.
Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Related Articles. Is It Safer to Be a Pessimist? You can access our career planning guide to help you draft your vision and start taking steps toward a happier life. Overall, a positive mindset is important for your health, happiness, and future.
Use your optimism to take action and to grow, plan, and prepare for a brighter future. Even though this pandemic has impacted all our usual routines and plans, there will always be opportunities for you out there. While they may be a little harder to find right now, you just have to encourage yourself to look for them.
Remember, even if life seems out of control, you can still take control of your path to success. Latest Articles See All. Managing Your Career in the Time of Coronavirus. This Website Stores Cookies On Your Computer These cookies are used to improve your experience and provide more personalized services to you, both on this website and through other media.
0コメント