Promote health and well-being with a daily dose of optimism
Many scientific studies suggest that being optimistic brings positive rewards, including better health. Do you go into your day with overwhelming thoughts, expecting the worst, and lack the confidence to achieve your health goals? If you tend to lean towards a “glass-half empty”, you might be interested to discover the advantages of choosing to be optimistic. Optimism is a skill that can be learned over time to approach goals and life challenges with confidence.
Benefits of optimism
Choosing to be more optimistic and positive does not mean you won’t encounter difficult times, trauma, loss, and/or challenges. True optimism is not sitting back, thinking positive thoughts, and hoping everything will turn out all right. What research has shown is that
optimists approach life’s challenges with a healthy, realistic outlook. They focus their energy on moving towards what outcomes they desire; they don’t get mentally stuck with potential negative results.
A research study concluded, “Optimism may significantly influence mental and physical well-being by the promotion of a healthy lifestyle as well as by adaptive behaviors and cognitive responses, associated with greater flexibility, problem-solving capacity, and a more efficient elaboration of negative information.” (1).
The following benefits were associated with optimism:
Optimists are more likely to achieve their goals because they persevere through difficult times.
Optimists live longer and suffer from fewer and less severe health challenges: heart disease, blood pressure, cancer, pain, and mental health.
Optimists have better stress management due to adaptive, coping strategies.
Optimists do not engage in helplessness and tend to lead a higher quality of life because they adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors.
If you choose optimism, you’re empowering yourself to see the silver lining or positive outcome and take action to further improve your quality of life.
Learned Optimism
Learning how to use your thoughts to change your mindset and emotions is a valuable skill to put into practice. Martin Seligman—pioneer of positive psychology—argued that learned optimism cultivates a positive outlook to enhance our health and well-being. This can be accomplished by cognitively reframing—a strategy for challenging your negative thoughts. He explains the ABC’s technique, “Use the ABC (adversity, beliefs, and consequences) technique to think about the chain of cognition. Adversity sets a cognitive explanatory cycle in motion, quickly solidifying thoughts into beliefs that generate your feelings and responses. The way you explain the setback to yourself—not the event itself—determines if you respond by acting constructively or if you fall into despair” (Seligman, 2006). Other effective strategies would include mindfulness exercises and/or keeping a gratitude journal.
Summary
If negative thoughts and fear of failure are preventing you from achieving your goals or starting your health journey, we encourage a daily dose of optimism! Let’s get unstuck and start consciously filling that glass up with healthy assets one thought at a time.
If you would like to learn more about Sensibly Holistic and how a board-certified nurse coach can support you in your journey to optimal health and well-being, please request a free consultation:
References
Optimism and Its Impact on Mental and Physical Well-Being. (2010, May 14). Retrieved from NIH National Library of Medicine: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2894461/
Prospective associations of happiness and optimism with lifestyle over up to two decades. (2019, June 18). Retrieved from National Center for Biotechnology, National Library of Medicine: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6697576/
Seligman, M. E. (2006). Learned optimism: How to change your mind and your life. Vintage.
This information is for educational and informational purposes only and solely as a self-help tool for your own use. I am not providing medical, psychological, or nutrition therapy advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your own medical practitioner. Always seek the advice of your own medical practitioner and/or mental health provider about your specific health situation. For my full Disclaimer, please go to www.sensiblyholisticllc.com/disclaimer.