Lift Your Spirits

Take a close look at that glass of water. Half empty? Half full? What you see could make a difference, not only in your daily health, but in how long you live.

So say the results of a new study that tracked 839 people over 30 years. In the 1960s, study participants took a standardized test to determine whether they were optimistic, pessimistic or somewhere in between. Those who scored high on the pessimism scale turned out to have a 19 percent greater chance of premature death than those who scored more optimistically.

The power of optimism
There are at least four ways that optimism can affect longevity:

• Optimists tend to be less passive than pessimists and less likely to develop "learned helplessness" or negative and debilitating responses to things that happen to them.
• Optimists tend to be more likely to practice preventive health measures because they believe their actions make a difference.
• Optimists suffer depression at a markedly lower rate than pessimists; depression is associated with mortality.
• Optimists' immune systems have been shown to function more effectively than those of pessimists.

Learning to see the bright side
For decades, psychologists have studied the link between positive thinking and physical and mental health. It's more important to change negative thought patterns into positive ones than to worry about being optimistic. Optimism is not a blindness to reality, but a learned optimism grounded in accuracy and non-negative thinking.

Optimist vs. non-optimist
How can you determine whether you think more optimistically or pessimistically?

Optimists see setbacks as specific, temporary and changeable, and are therefore motivated to take action. Non-optimists tend to look at setbacks as general, permanent and hopeless, symptoms of widespread failure that cannot be changed.

For example, an optimist who didn't follow through on an exercise routine for a week might say, "I had a lot going on this week. I didn't plan my time too well. I'll have to do better next week." A pessimist in the same situation might say, "I have no self-discipline. I obviously won't be able to meet my goals. Exercise just isn't for me."

Getting into a good mood
Mood has an influence on whether optimistic or pessimistic thoughts dominate your brain. Three methods optimistic people tend to use to lift their moods:

• Alternative thinking
  When bad things happen, optimists tend to take them less personally and come up with multiple alternatives for why they might have happened, then work actively to fix the situation.
  
  
• Downward comparison
  Though it sounds unkind, optimists compare themselves to others who are in worse situations as a way to brighten their own spirits.
  
  
• Relaxation
  Optimists tend to use exercise, yoga, and even "putting on a happy face" as ways to relax and thereby improve their moods.

Optimism not always the answer
Optimists are not always healthier than pessimists. Excessive optimism can actually be harmful to one's health. For instance, optimistic thinking when making difficult health choices like quitting smoking, using condoms or wearing seatbelts, can lead to people -- especially teenagers -- to take risks.

Still, there are times when optimism can be a powerful ally. When achievement is the goal, use optimism. If you're fighting off depression, optimistic thoughts can boost your morale.

Changing from negative to positive
Optimism, like other interpersonal skills, can be learned. You may begin by writing about your setbacks and practicing arguing with your less optimistic thoughts until a more realistic vision of what has happened and what is likely to happen in the future emerges.