Optimism appears to be a basic trait—a simple emphasis on what is good and forward-looking but it is a very strong trait. It has some truly favorable impacts, ranging from a longer life to higher work performance and job happiness.
Here’s why optimism is important and how to increase your optimism to get its numerous benefits:
Optimism, Stress, Health, and Performance
First and foremost, optimism is beneficial to your health. A new study from the Boston University School of Medicine that followed over 70,000 men and women for decades discovered that optimism is associated with an 11 to 15% longer life span. This remained true even when age, education, alcohol consumption, food, and exercise were all controlled for. Furthermore, past research has linked optimism to a lower risk of illness and early mortality.
Why Optimism Matters?
Optimism is beneficial because individuals who are an Optimistic Mindset recover more quickly from adversity—they are more resilient. Furthermore, they are regarded to have greater emotional control and may make better overall decisions about nutrition, exercise, and other behaviors such as cigarette usage. When faced with stress at work, a positive outlook may help you manage it in healthy ways. Similarly, if for a promotion, you can bounce back more readily and continue producing outstanding work toward the next opportunity.
Optimism is also associated with a development attitude, which suggests that optimists feel they can alter their situation. They are more inclined to take constructive measures to shape their destinies, rather than seeing themselves as having fixed sets of abilities and characteristics that cannot be changed or adapted. If you’re working on a challenging project, an optimistic attitude might keep you motivated to explore new alternatives and persevere in finding a solution.
How To Be More Optimistic Mindset
So you’ve decided to be more positive, but how? Here are a few pointers:
Be Present
Worrying about the future and negativism that can spin out of control are two characteristics of pessimism. Staying more focused on the present is one of the tactics for optimism. A recent MIT researcher discovered that middle school pupils who practiced mindfulness were less stressed. Attend every meeting and discussion with coworkers. Concentrate and give your all in every moment, knowing that your efforts in the present will pay off in the future.
Be Grateful
Being appreciative of what you have is another surefire strategy to boost your positivity. Gratitude has long been proven to promote physical and psychological health, boost empathy, and reduce aggressiveness, stress, self-esteem, relationships, and even sleep. It seems to reason that thankfulness is linked to optimism. When you appreciate what you have, you are a more Optimistic Mindset about the future. Even if an issue appears intractable, you may show thankfulness and positivity. When confronted with an issue, one of my coworkers remarks, “If this is my greatest problem, I’m still pretty blessed.”
Think Long-Term
Extending your time horizon is another approach to be more hopeful. When confronted with a challenging task, broaden your perspective and assess whether it will matter in a month or a year. A quarrel with a customer or a conflict with a coworker may seem momentous now, but it will be forgotten after a while. Being positive might be simpler when you see a bright future in which current concerns will no longer be on your radar.
Manage Your Expectations
When actuality and anticipation do not align, this is one of the causes of unhappiness. Maintain reasonable expectations to be more content with what is going on around you. You may be disappointed if you set the bar too high for your next raise or the juicy project you’re sure will come your way. Set objectives that will keep you motivated while being realistic so that you will be happy when chances arise. This will keep you upbeat about the next chance, and the next, and the next. Optimism has several significant impacts. Be present and thankful to reap its benefits. Take a long-term perspective with positive and reasonable expectations. All of this will contribute to the personal growth mentality that will keep you engaged and compellingly focused on the future.