Science tells us that it is in our best interest to adopt an optimistic mindset. It’s been reported that having an optimistic outlook can improve cardiovascular health, build stronger immune systems and even lengthen lifespan. [1] However despite all of this evidence, we don’t consider optimism as a legitimate way of warding off poor health or improving wellness. Instead we live in a world where negative headlines dominate the news and social media, where small talk strays to talk about the unrest in the world, and where gossip trumps supportive encouragement. It seems that at every turn, we are sabotaging our own health, the health of our community and the infrastructure that finances this decline in health.
I suppose the reason is simple. It’s extremely easy to be pessimistic, and it pays well too. The click thru rate on a story that proclaims world peace or a day where everyone just had a nice day would likely be paltry whereas headlines evoking imminent danger, life-threatening storms, and mass riots trend in minutes. It’s undoubtedly difficult to remain an optimistic person when faced with this type of information all day, everyday.
But if we seek to improve our own health and quality of life, and eventually impact greater change in our society, we must find a way to cultivate and maintain optimism in our daily lives. Optimism is not about looking at the events of our life and deciding to be happy anyway. That’s akin to putting on rose-colored glasses and deciding everything is just fine. Optimism is actually the result of building resilience and having a purpose in life and work. When we can live out of our true purpose, it becomes natural to see the glass as half full rather than half empty.
Think of a simple example. As nurses, we go to work everyday to help others heal. Even if we got the news that the total number of patients who recovered from ICU this year were less than the previous year, we wouldn’t slump away in defeat. Instead, we would rally. We would note all the lives we did save and be grateful for that. Then we would figure out how to improve. Pessimists might see statistic as evidence the entire industry was crumbling, that their job was worthless, and they’d find countless other issues to blame and rant about.
Essentially, when you are working toward something bigger than yourself, it becomes easier to see things through an optimistic lens. That lens isn’t false. It’s like looking at your world from a position of strength rather than one of helplessness. From that perspective, it makes sense why optimistic people have better overall health.
So how can you adopt a more optimistic lifestyle in 2020? Here are three easy practices:
Change your community – If the people you surround yourself with are negative, you will find that the sentiment is contagious. Take a look at who you are spending your time with and decide to limit time with people who are predominantly negative.
Silence social media – It’s so easy to get caught up in the dialogue taking place in your social media feeds. You don’t have to swear off social media entirely, but decide when and how you will use it. You don’t have to respond to every alert or automatically start scrolling every time you find yourself with a few minutes to burn. Designate when and where you will use social media and cut yourself off if you notice it affecting your mood. Silence contributors who disseminate negative stories and comments, and instead follow uplifting and inspiring influencers with positive things to say.
Focus on the positive – The things that you focus on to tend to grow whereas those that you don’t pay attention to tend to shrink. When you make a conscious effort to focus on all the good in the world, the bad stuff tends to fade away. Fill your podcast list with shows on topics that inspire you. Listen to music you love. Make gratitude lists. Once you start looking, you’ll see there is goodness happening all around you.
[1] Lillee Gelinas, MSN, RN, CPPS, FAAN, Editor-in-Chief. “You’re Brain on Optimism.” American Nurse. October 1, 2019. https://www.myamericannurse.com/your-brain-on-optimism/
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