Want to Live Longer? Be Optimistic
A new study found that optimistic people are more likely to achieve exceptional longevity, living to 85 years of age or older, than their pessimistic counterparts. Moreover, additional studies have pointed out that optimistic people are both happier and healthier in life. The moral of the story? Science says it’s better to look at the bright side in difficult situations. Doing so can help us to navigate tough situations easier, help us get well faster and may even prevent early death.
There is also evidence that optimistic people recover from major medical setbacks, such as a heart attack, much faster and with less chance of a repeat attack than pessimists. That’s great news for optimists, but what if you’re a pessimist? You can become more optimistic with practice. Let's look at how to go about it.
Optimists Live Longer
A decades-long study has revealed that optimistic people who expect good outcomes tend to live longer and are 50% to 70% more likely to reach the age of 85 or older. They live 11% to 15% longer, on average, than those with bleaker outlooks.
At this point, it’s unclear why optimists live longer, but researchers believe that it may come down to how they handle life stressors. Optimistic people are better able to roll with life's changes and generally bounce back quicker after setbacks.
The Power of Optimism
The power of optimism is indisputable. According to Forbes, “optimism reduces the bad stuff and elevates the good stuff.” Optimism keeps the brain sharp, reduces stress and increases the brain’s production of dopamine.
It also improves health. Optimism has been shown to lower blood pressure, fight off infection and ward off a second heart attack.
Optimists are also happier, which seems kind of obvious but that may also mean they have a better quality of life. How so? When difficulties arise in an optimist’s life, they are able to make sense of it and solve it much more quickly. In other words, they recover and keep moving. This helps optimists navigate life problems, such as job loss or illness, that may prevent others from moving forward in their lives.
How to Be More Optimistic
If you’re not an optimistic person by nature, don’t give up hope. There are things you can do to increase your optimism. Try these:
- Focus on the good stuff. Don’t dwell on what’s going wrong. Instead, focus on what’s going right. Look at the bright side.
- Practice gratitude. Learn to be grateful for what you have. Write down the things you are grateful for each day and spend some time thinking about it.
- Look for a positive outcome. Some good things almost always come out of something bad. It’s important to recognize this and learn what they are.
- Try positive projection. Whenever you think about the future, imagine the good things you expect to happen, not the bad ones.
It almost seems as though those who want to be happiest and healthiest must harvest the power of optimism. But what can you do if you’re a naturally pessimistic person? You can work on becoming a more optimistic person—make it a habit where nature leaves off. It may take a lot of effort at first, but it's entirely possible to shift an outlook. Those who problematically struggle with negative thoughts too frequently might benefit from seeking therapy.
