Healthy Optimism

Healthy optimism has been linked to several benefits, such as improved health,
For Sale One Pair of Rose-Colored Glasses. The following accessories included: improved health, increased longevity, greater resilience to life stressors, and better mental health.

For those of you who have a skeptical outlook on life, you may be paying a hefty price for being overly cautious. Research states that individuals who have a healthy optimism about the world tend to fare better in all aspects of their lives. Optimists have much lower risk for asthma, ulcers, and heart disease. Optimists may also do better financially. Two studies found that optimistic salespeople sold 40-60% more life insurance than their colleagues who were more pessimistic!

The explanation you place on events in your life can make a difference in how healthy, happy, and resilient you are in the face of life's challenges. Martin Seligman, Ph.D., a top-notch research psychologist and an authority on optimism, notes that optimists differ from pessimists in three main areas of thinking.

1. Personalization: Optimists take credit for good things that happen and tend to share the blame with others when bad things occur. Pessimists blame themselves for bad events, but do not take credit when good things occur. For example, when winning the lottery, the optimist might tell herself, "I picked the right numbers," while the pessimist would attribute winning to luck.

2. Permanence: Optimists see bad events as being temporary, while pessimists tend to believe that bad things will last. For example, given signs of a possible health problem, an optimist will believe that with treatment, the problem will resolve. However, a pessimist might assume that the condition will likely be chronic.

3. Pervasiveness: When bad events occur, optimists compartmentalize, separating these events from other aspects of their lives. In contrast, pessimists tend to globalize, letting bad events permeate their lives in general. If an optimist loses his job, he might continue to exercise, socialize with friends, and enjoy hobbies, while looking for a new position. Conversely, a pessimist might tell himself "I am a bad father, husband, and person. I am a failure."

Optimists can be just as realistic as pessimists. Realistic optimists do not pretend things are wonderful when faced with real tragedies. However, even in a difficult situation, an optimist will be more likely to see the silver lining on the cloud or retain a sense of hope that things can get better.

Developing an Optimistic Outlook:

Research states that if cultivated correctly, optimistic thinking can become a positive habit that will lead to a variety of benefits in all areas of your life, including improved health, job success, and even slowed aging. The following is a list of tips for acquiring optimism:

1. Manage blame. Give yourself adequate credit for good events. When bad events occur, do not automatically assume complete responsibility (even if you tend to be a "responsible" person).

2. Learn to compartmentalize. In other words, practice "flood control" when bad events occur. Consciously prevent bad events from spilling over into other areas of your life. Continue to exercise, socialize, pursue hobbies, and so forth, even though you may not completely feel like doing so.

3. Form friendships with optimistic people. The old adage that "misery loves company" is still true. In fact, miserable company can create more misery. Instead, surround yourself with positive people who build you up, find humor in life, and feel good about themselves.

4. Skew positive. Negative expectations produce negative outcomes. If you skew positive, you may be disappointed at times, but in the long run, this strategy will buffer you against negative thinking.

About the Author

Poonam Sharma, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist and life coach in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Sharma helps people improve their health, find balance in their lives, and achieve their most important personal and professional goals. She can be contacted directly by phone at 210.493.6554 or by email at mycoach@healthfulchanges.com.

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