Psychology Today: Does It Really Pay Off to Be An Eternal Optimist?
"Psychology itself doesn’t provide a clear answer about the possible benefits and risks of a chronically happy approach to life. Although there is evidence that being an optimist can help you feel better physically, mentally, and even cognitively, few studies actually examine what the long-term implications are of always seeing the bright side of life.
Tracking Optimism Over 25 Years
To help address this question, data from the Rochester Adult Longitudinal Study (RALS), is making it possible to investigate the developmental course of optimism over a 25-year period along with measures of health and well-being.
By following individuals over the decades, it was possible to see whether people actually changed relative to themselves. In other words, once an optimist, always an optimist?
The second question Oh and our research team investigated was whether being optimistic over the long haul could, as shorter-term studies suggested, produce better health in later life.
Participants in the Oh et al. study consisted of 984 alumni from the University of Rochester divided into cohorts based on their year of graduation (1960s, 1970s, and 1980s).
Results
Turning to the results, after constructing carefully-controlled statistical modeling tests, Oh et al. reported that, indeed, there does seem to be something like an eternal optimist.
Although some people changed in relative order over time, optimism generally increased over time and did not show an inverted U-shaped pattern.
The findings supported the prediction that optimists would score higher on the study’s health rating item. Optimists, over the 25-year period, were more likely to engage in physical activity, avoid harmful chemical substances, and limit their intake of unhealthy food. Overall, optimists also showed the psychological benefits of having higher life satisfaction and greater purpose in life.
To sum up, our findings show there’s no reason to get down on yourself for being someone that others accuse of being unsophisticatedly cheerful. At the same time, being an optimist may even help you engage in some of those all-important health-protective behaviors that will benefit your well-being over time. Let the pessimists have their day, but by staying optimistic your fulfillment will get you through the years.
Read the full article here!
Reflection:
Would you consider yourself an 'optimist'?
#Optimism #MentalHealth #PhysicalHealth
@comfortableNight4463 i consider myself a realistic optimist
i don't think bad things won't happen just that if/when they do I know i'll be able to manage one way or another
@comfortableNight4463 I would hope that I am an optimist most of the time! I do have my moments of self-doubt and negativity, but I don't think it's healthy to be positive all of the time! It's normal to have negative feelings and to feel the sad feelings sometimes. But as long as we pick ourselves back up, that's what matters!!
I always thought I was a negative or pessimistic person, but time has shown me that I have actually been overly optimistic or rosy in a lot of large/consistent ways that I do believe have or will ultimately serve me (or at least other people) well. My version of optimism can just come off as cynical or jaded in some contexts, because of my past experiences and some communication habits.
I am said to be an optimist and I won't disagree.
But I think there is a misconception about optimism (nowadays?). Cheerfulness does not equal it nor cause it. Being cheerful is only the result of optimism.
An optimist - I believe - is somebody seeking for the least judgemental approach to anything that occurs in life. Obstacles too. We all may know how names and naming things have great power. An optimist names obstacles as problems instead of calling them demons a.k.a. something that seems out of our control. This way you can organize your life to make more opportunities available to you. If you are looking at it as a problem, then you are more likely to be able to keep on looking for solutions, therefore may eventually reach one. And the best part is maybe that we all have the power of naming things. It does not mean an optimist can't be unhappy or at a loss at times. But at these times what an optimist seeks is to be self-empathetic in a non-judgemental way.
And it does not mean you can't fail to be an optimist at times. And even if you do please remember it is okay. You can always try again next time.
Although please be wary of fake optimism. Optimism as advertised by several sources like motivators or 'success' gurus or whatever to call them, is not true optimism. Especially when they are just calling for faking cheerfulness. More often than not they seem to have the intention to silence our voices in our suffering.
@comfortableNight4463
I think I said this in an earlier post but I think there are benefits to being both either an optimist and pessimist, diversity of perspectives are what brings the best forward. I'd say even the title of an 'realistic optimist' is an optimist that has a capacity to be a little pessimistic and see the world for what it truly is. Either way it's a great read to see and discover more about both!
