Optimism, Health & Longevity
The health press are hot on the trail of positivity of late, as
mounting evidence shows that those who live with their glass
half full are living longer.
This could be for a variety of reasons, two of the more obvious
ones being:
1. that negativity is stressful and gets us down physically as
well as emotionally and
2. that the body and mind are expert at manifesting our feelings
and expectations.
Simply put, pessimists tend not to expect to live a long and
healthy life, and their body may well dutifully arrange things
to make it so.
Martin Seligman, a psychologist at the University of
Pennsylvania recently conducted a study in which "pessimistic"
students were sent to optimism workshops, as a direct result,
many of them began experiencing reduced anxiety and paying less
visits to the school's health services department.
The good news :-), is that optimism is contagious, but we have
to be willing to allow that chink of light through the curtains
that lift our spirits. This is where support groups and
workshops can be of great value, as they can help us learn new
skills to pep up our outlook.
Here are a few fun and easy ways to change the way you look at
your glass:
# make it a game - if you catch yourself having a downcast
thought about something, just say "oops" to yourself, look up
and arrange your face in a smile and have a think about how many
ways you can find to see it differently.
# start a gratitude journal - write down every day the things
you have in your life to be happy about and grateful for.
There's always something. Write at least three every day and
then read through them, pick one and sit back and close your
eyes and think about it for a minute. Try and recall it vividly
and in detail so you can really feel it.
# choose your company carefully - be it people, what you watch,
or what you read, be careful who you're hanging out with.
Grumpiness and pessimism can be contagious! Look for company
that uplifts and inspires you. If TV is your way of distraction,
choose something funny or inspiring rather than the news. And
how about trying an inspiring read? Don't Sweat the Small Stuff
by Richard Carlson is a great book for a quick 5 minute mental
lift.