Look to the future with healthy optimism
Mark A. Mahoney
As we continue to face the ongoing pressures associated with the pandemic surge it is important to focus on looking toward the future with a more optimistic view.
Although optimism appears to be in short supply for certain sectors of society, it is imperative that we strive to remain positive in our outlook. To do otherwise will only increase the uncertainty amongst all individuals within our country.
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This column provides a summarized look at some of the evidence demonstrating the positive role of optimism in our lives. A past study on the importance of optimism for longevity is also noted and was part of a past column in 2019.
Optimism – What research shows
Past epidemiological evidence provides evidence that optimistic people present a higher quality of life compared to those with low levels of optimism or even pessimists. 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.
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There is lots of empirical evidence suggesting that whether you view the world through a pessimistic or optimistic lens is within the locus of your control. When it comes to optimism, the science is compelling. Most people think they are either an optimist or pessimist by nature — and there may be some predisposition — but optimism is also a state of mind that can be learned and practiced.
You can learn to be more optimistic.
A discussion of some of the research supporting the idea that your brain can be trained to self-regulate negative thinking can be viewed at psychologytoday.com.
Benefits of optimism – Results from a past study
This study involved more than 70,000 participants who completed a survey to measure their levels of optimism, overall health, and lifestyle habits such as smoking, alcohol use, and diet. One goal of this research was to pinpoint specific psychosocial factors that promote promote resilient aging across a lifespan. Some study participants were followed for up to three decades (1986–2016).
According to Lewina Lee, the principal author of this study, a clinical research psychologist at the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD) at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs in Boston and an assistant professor of psychiatry at BUSM, “While research has identified many risk factors for diseases and premature death, we know relatively less about positive psychosocial factors that can promote healthy aging.” Lee adds, “This study has strong public health relevance because it suggests that optimism is one such psychosocial asset that has the potential to extend the human lifespan. Interestingly, optimism may be modifiable using relatively simple techniques or therapies.”
“Other research suggests that more optimistic people may be able to regulate emotions and behavior as well as bounce back from stressors and difficulties more effectively,” co-senior author Laura Kubzansky of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health said in a statement.
On average, the most optimistic men and women in the study had odds of reaching age 85 that were 50-70 percent greater than the least optimistic study participants. These statistics take demographic differences and lifestyle into consideration. After adjusting for demographics and health conditions, women and men in the highest versus lowest “optimism quartile” had a 14.9 percent longer lifespan.
“Given work indicating optimism is modifiable, these findings suggest optimism may provide a valuable target to test for strategies to promote longevity,” the authors concluded.
This study is correlational and cannot conclude if optimism actually causes exceptional longevity. The million-dollar question remains: Why is optimism associated with longevity?
This past research is an important look at potentially-relevant information on the importance of optimism in our daily lives and its significance for longevity.
Optimism and health
A few summary points from the University of Rochester’s Medical Center on the role of optimism and its positive effect on life (especially relevant during these stressful times) are provided below:
- Think positive thoughts about yourself and others.
- Stop comparing yourself to others in a competitive way. Each person has unique and special talents that are to be valued.
- Try to find the good in every situation, even at difficult moments.
- When facing a challenge, focus on achieving a positive outcome, rather than expecting defeat.
- Strive to improve your physical health through exercise, a healthy diet, and good sleeping habits and hygiene. The better you feel, the brighter your outlook will be.
Health benefits of positive thinking and optimism include reduced stress, better psychological and physical well-being, and better coping skills during stressful times. As we look toward the future, we should all strive to focus on a more positive, optimistic outlook.
Final note: vaccine arrival
Rather than let pessimism dictate our thoughts (and actions) we all need to strive for a more optimistic view in our daily lives. In terms of the pandemic, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel in terms of the vaccine arrival. As we look toward the future, we should all strive to focus on a more positive, optimistic outlook.
After all, isn’t that what we all want: to live a happier, healthier more productive life?
Remember that now is not the time to let our guard down as the vaccine to address the pandemic is on the horizon, with the first shipments being delivered this week.
Mark A. Mahoney, Ph.D. has been a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist for over 34 years and completed graduate studies in Nutrition & Public Health at Columbia University. He can be reached at [email protected].
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