Sun visible beyond Santorini

Source: Paige Ela / Used with Permission

We all know someone who tends to see the bright side of things no matter what, and good for them. For the rest of us, we may have to work at it a bit. The payoff for doing so is well worth it. Indeed, women who scored higher on a validated measure of optimism, live on average 5.4 percent (approximately 4.4 years) longer (Koga and colleagues, 2022). It is important to note that this included a racially diverse cohort of women, making this fairly consistent across different backgrounds. Thankfully for the gentlemen, the results do not seem to be only for women, since earlier studies that included men also found longevity benefits to optimism. Similar findings have been found for cognition as well, meaning if we expect our mental faculties to fail as we age, they are significantly more likely to do so. If we expect to stay sharp, we are more likely to have a lively mind as we age.

I have referred to the cognitive triangle of feeling, thinking, and doing, as well as how this triangle can work for or against one. In short, each of these phenomena is intricately linked to the other two. Changing any of the three for the better will positively lift the other two. As an example, pessimistic thinking such as, “I will probably fail this test” will lead a child to feel anxious and downcast. The behavior that follows may very well be a lack of confidence in completing the answers and an overall half-hearted effort. Changing the cognition, “I am worried I will fail this test, but I have prepared to the best of my ability, and actually have not gotten a failing grade before” might shift the child’s feelings into neutral or even hopeful territory. She may then fill in the answers with a little more confidence, thereby performing better. This is one of many ways optimism can work on one’s behalf.

Changing behavior is another option. Even small changes can improve the quality of life and lift a person’s spirits. Researchers have extensively looked into which behaviors help with optimistic thinking, and the results have not been entirely surprising: adequate sleep, reading for pleasure, exercise, being in nature, spirituality of any form, and meditation—all have been empirically proven to help us feel better and possibly even live longer. As Amherst College professor Catherine Sanderson writes in her 2019 book, The Positive Shift, “Change your behavior, and your mindset will follow.”

One more thought: Teddy Roosevelt said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” People in this country generally have many blessings, and while gratitude is another force of resilience, we are not immune to comparing ourselves to our neighbors. Of note, it seems to be human nature to compare upwards. Comparing to those less fortunate, somehow, does not ultimately resonate, which is why Roosevelt’s words still ring true today.