The Power of Optimism
What is Optimism?
Optimism is defined as hopefulness and confidence about the future or successful outcome. It is a mental attitude characterized by hope and determination in success and a positive future. It impacts both our mental and physical well-being. The flipside of optimism is skepticism, a pessimistic attitude of doubt and suspicion. It’s important to realize that you have the power to choose which mental outlook guides your life and how this choice impacts your overall health.
It’s obvious that healthy people live longer than sick people. According to two studies, if optimism actually improves health, it also boosts longevity. Optimists tend to enjoy better health because they lead more active lifestyles, eat well, build stronger social support networks, and get better medical care.
Seven Benefits of Optimism
- Optimists feel healthier
- Optimists are happier
- Optimists live longer
- Optimists are better at fighting illness
- Optimists experience less stress
- Optimists form better relationships
- Optimists enjoy working more and setting goals
Exercising Optimism
Incorporating optimism into your approach to fitness can lead to many benefits. Optimism often increases your motivation to work out. A positive attitude also makes it easier to achieve your workout goals and stick to a regular exercise routine. Optimism can also help us to be more open to trying new activities.
No matter your age, you can push through challenges and hard times. Even in the face of physical limitations or a poor diagnosis, you can decide to stay positive and determined while dealing with the situation. We will all have hardship, challenges, or heartbreak at some point in our lives. What’s most important is how we cope with it.
I remember when my son was a toddler, his favorite storybook was The Little Engine That Could. The little blue engine struggled to get up a steep mountain. No one thought he could do it but that little engine believed in himself no matter what. He kept saying to himself, “I think I can, I think I can” as he forced his way up the mountainside. And he did. This is a powerful example of how with an optimistic attitude, you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. You just have to constantly remind yourself that you know you can do something and then go out and do it!
Optimism can help you in both your personal life and with your professional development. Some people are naturally optimistic and can see the bright side of every situation. Sometimes optimism doesn’t come easily, but it is something you can practice getting better at. It’s much like strengthening a muscle. With consistency, effort and discipline, you can become more optimistic. As the saying goes, “If you don’t use it, you lose it.”
Finally, it’s so important to remember that optimism is not just about reaching a specific goal but also the journey itself. The positive outcome that it has is endless. By cultivating optimism, we are making our lives more enriched, happier, and healthier. The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible! Always believe in yourself and never give up!
This article originally appeared in the Coastal Breeze.
