Optimistic explanatory style boosts our immune system, protecting us from infectious diseases and decreasing the likelihood of breast cancer relapse. In another famous study, this time of Catholic nuns, optimistic nuns outlived negative ones by about 10 years.ĭifferent mechanisms are at work here, some physical and others behavior-oriented. In the famous Grant Study, a longitudinal study of male Harvard students from the classes of 1939-1944, optimism began predicting health starting at age 45. In contrast, optimism brings a sense of agency and confidence, and with it less despair and hopelessness. Depressed people also exhibit learned helplessness, the feeling that they’re not in control of their lives (which leads to passivity). According to psychologist Martin Seligman, depression is often accompanied by a pessimistic explanatory style: we tend to blame ourselves for misfortune, believe it’s permanent, and believe it affects all areas of life. Optimists experience less depression and anxiety, and optimistic explanatory style can alleviate depression and help prevent relapses. All that positivity must radiate outward, because optimists tend to be better liked by others, too. Optimists have a more positive mood and morale, more vitality, a sense of mastery, and high self-regard. More positive emotions and better relationships Of course, it makes sense that having a sense of hope and positive attitude about the future would make us more content in the present. This all boosts the luscious feeling of anticipation, which is greater the more pleasurable the anticipated event, the more vividly we can imagine it, the more probable we think it is to happen, and the sooner it will be happening. But what is the mechanism here?Īs the University College London’s Tali Sharot explains, optimistic people are happier because they imagine positive events more vividly and expect them to occur sooner. More happinessĪs expected, optimists report being happier in life.
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Here’s what you can expect as you begin to become more optimistic: 1.
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That may be the common conception of optimism, but it’s not what the research on healthy optimism shows. Not signed up yet? Enter your email here and you’ll get a weekly dose of readings and videos to further your happiness education.ĭo optimists have such high expectations that they’re constantly disappointed? Do they think so positively that they just sit back and wait for the universe to deliver the goods? Do they take more risks and get hurt because they believe everything will turn out okay?
#Hopeful optimism free#
The Year of Happy is a free online course in the science of happiness. Welcome to week 3 of The Year of Happy‘s month on optimism.