How does optimism help you

You can train yourself to become optimistic. One such method, called the Best Possible Self , resulted in improved optimism just after one session. All people had to do was spend five minutes each day imagining the best possible future for themselves. Other ways include keeping a journal to track the things you are thankful for.

You can do this in the morning to start your day on a positive note, or in the evening to recount all the good things that happened that day. If you do have negative thoughts, write them down too, and write down why you have them. Your mental outlook is also contagious. Hanging out with people who are negative can bring you down. Likewise, being around people who are optimistic can lift your spirits and instill a brighter view on life. So try to spend time with other positive people and ask them how they look at life.

Science also shows that those with an optimistic outlook tend to be more proactive when it comes to their health, have better cardiovascular health and a stronger immune system , earn a higher income and have more successful relationships. A large study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health found that the most optimistic women were 30 percent less likely to die from any of the serious illnesses tracked during the 8-year time period, including cancer, heart disease and stroke.

In fact, there are many effective ways to adopt an optimistic mindset. Experts refer to the tactic as "positive reframing. Often, he will reply that he did end up spending time indoors relaxing, reading or cuddling up to somebody he loves. After a while, this will become effortless, a more automatic and optimistic frame of mind. Making this conscious effort not only shifts your viewpoint in the short term, but it may actually train your brain to think more positively.

We all have those friends who are chronic complainers or gossipers. After spending a few hours with them we find ourselves jumping on the Debby Downer bandwagon. Having a happy spouse, friend or neighbor who lives within a mile of you increases the probability that you will be happy as well.

If you start connecting to people who are optimistic and grounded in life, you will start to be affected by their positive energy," says Ward. The more you spend time with negativity, the more negative you are bound to feel.

I typically recommend allowing yourself just enough time to learn the news, after which I suggest that you turn off the media and instead spend time doing activities that help maintain your health and a positive outlook.

If you feel a need to process the current state of political or world affairs, you may want to consider having a healthy discussion about it with a friend or family member; this still allows you to absorb the information but can also offer you a good level of discourse and balanced views on the news.

Researchers define gratitude as the appreciation of what is valuable and meaningful to oneself, or a general state of thankfulness — no doubt a mental state that fosters an optimistic outlook. But it can be easier said than done to remain grateful throughout day to-day stressors.

A smart way to ease into it is by journaling, a popular technique for cultivating gratitude that takes just minutes each day. At the end of each day, they will write down one or two things that they experienced or witnessed during the day that filled them with gratitude, says Iyer.

This will allow you to focus on the positives of your day and cultivate an optimistic mindset, a perfect note on which to end your day. Writing down what you are grateful for is linked to greater feelings of optimism. Optimism isn't about seeing everything as rosy. Optimists don't ignore problems or pretend life is perfect. They just choose to focus on what's good about a situation and what they can do to make things better. Optimists have true confidence because they're prepared: They know they need to study if they want to ace a tough test.

They know they can't make the basketball team without practicing. Optimism goes hand-in-hand with action. It's about finding a healthy balance of positive and realistic thinking. Pessimism can drag us down — so it's good to know we can change a negative mindset. But that doesn't mean erasing all negative thinking. A healthy "what's wrong?

Thinking about what could go wrong helps us avoid too much risk. Imagine your brother is texting while he drives you to rehearsal. Your negative thinking alerts you: "Hey, this isn't good!

In this case you're combining pessimistic thinking "Texting leads to car crashes! Just about all of us go through a rough patch now and then where it can seem like nothing's working. It's healthy to identify feelings when we're discouraged, and it's OK to talk about what's wrong. Confiding in someone can lift your mood and remind you of the optimistic possibilities.

Negative thinking can help you move forward, as long as you don't get stuck focusing on what's wrong. If you tend toward mostly pessimistic thinking, you can get better at seeing what's good.

Here are some things to try:. Optimism is a thinking style that can be learned, which means that pessimism can be unlearned! It can take a little while, so don't feel discouraged. Becoming more aware of the two styles can gradually help you start noticing more ways to be optimistic. Just keep telling yourself, "I can be more optimistic and I'm going to keep practicing! Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. How's Your Day Going?

Optimism vs. Pessimism Optimism and pessimism are mindsets — ways of thinking and seeing things. Page 3 Optimism Builds Resilience Optimism lets us see disappointing events as temporary situations that we can get past. Realistic Optimism Optimism isn't about seeing everything as rosy.

Is There a Place for Pessimism? Page 4 How to Be More Optimistic If you tend toward mostly pessimistic thinking, you can get better at seeing what's good. Here are some things to try: Notice good things as they happen. At the end of the day, take 10 minutes to run through your day and come up with things that you're grateful for. Write them down in a journal or keep track using a motivational app on your phone or tablet.