Glass More Than Half Full
Seeing the glass half full, it turns out, may yield both mental and physical benefits. Having an optimistic outlook on life can prevent depression, boost your immune system, and improve general health. (And don’t worry, there’s good news for pessimists, too!)

Studies have shown that control groups who are identified as “optimists” via pre-intake tests have fewer instances of clinical depression than those who expressed negative thoughts–in other words, classic pessimists.  In addition, “optimists” participating in the study who did become depressed were far more likely to experience mild to moderate depression as opposed to severe cases. In other words, you have a better chance of bouncing back if you’re a glass half-full kinda person.

Beyond experiencing lower stress levels and increased longevity, those with optimistic personalities are also, according to a Harvard study, significantly healthier in middle age–45 to 60. In general, positive thinkers experience fewer instances of diabetes, hypertension, and even back trouble. If there’s any better reason to quit with the doom and gloom, I really don’t know what it could be.

Why Do Optimists Get All the Luck?

Part of the reason may have more to do with common sense, though.  Some of these studies have indicated that optimists are more likely to seek information on health, especially when disease strikes.  Because they believe they take can actually make a difference in their healthy, optimists are more likely to look into treatment options and take active measures to combat disease and live healthy lifestyles. In somewhat of a self-fulfilling prophesy, people who believe they’ll live long, healthy lives often do.

Sure, but What About Pessimists?

Ready for some more good news? Optimism isn’t necessarily an ingrained trait. Clinicians are starting to see optimism as more of a coping skill than an inherent personality trait–a coping skill that can be taught successfully. People can train themselves to think positively and reap the health benefits of optimism.

Now, I’m no expert on teaching optimism. It’s something that’s been with me for longer than I remember, not something I purposefully learned. A few quick thoughts, though:

  • Take another person’s perspective. So the barista screwed the pooch on your coffee order. Maybe her mom is in the hospital and she’s a bit distracted. The coffee doesn’t seem like such a big deal anymore, does it?
  • Take a longer perspective. Yeah, the stock you just bought tanked right away. But you’re not in it for quick profits. Focus on the long-term goals and the short-term goals can become slightly less frustrating.
  • Laugh. Is every, single, stupid, dumb little thing going wrong today? Instead of piecing together a complex and nearly plausibly conspiracy theory, have a laugh. Enjoying the irony and ridiculousness of bad luck can make it seem less like a personal attack and more like a prank by the universe.
  • Think of something good. For a many people, there are plenty of good experiences to balance out the bad. When you get rear-ended, remember the time you barely scraped out of an accident. Or, think of the way you’ll tell the story at the party tonight. Since you can’t change things after the fact, there’s no harm in seeing the lighter side of things.

So tell the truth–do you think that optimists have better health?  And is it possible to learn to be an optimist? Drop your opinion into the comments, conflicting views welcome.

Creative Commons License photo credit: jenny downing

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