Sunny outlook: How can we reap positive benefits of optimism? | Mark Mahoney

We prepared with a lot of optimism with the logistics and setting-up the 36th annual Alternative Christmas Market on Dec. 2. In spite of some rainy weather we were happy with the nice turnout of individuals who were interested in learning about and supporting the many-varied organizations all looking to assist those in need.

The atmosphere was both festive and friendly. So, how might we all better focus on the positive role of optimism can play in our daily lives?

Let’s look at some positive aspects of how to achieve that with a brief highlight of some areas germane to optimism. These include signs, causes, practice, impact and potential pitfalls of optimism.

Researchers have spent a lot of time studying people who think positively.

It turns out that an optimistic attitude helps us be happier, more successful, and healthier.

Optimism can protect against depression — even for people who are at risk for it. An optimistic outlook makes people more resistant to stress.

Why be more optimistic?

Researchers have spent a lot of time studying people who think positively. It turns out that an optimistic attitude helps us be happier, more successful, and healthier. Optimism can protect against depression — even for people who are at risk for it. An optimistic outlook makes people more resistant to stress.

Optimists expect good things to happen, whereas pessimists instead predict unfavorable outcomes. Optimistic attitudes are linked to several benefits, including better coping skills, lower stress levels, better physical health, and higher persistence when pursuing goals.

If you always see the brighter side of things, you may experience more positive events in your life than others, find yourself less stressed, and even enjoy more significant health benefits.

Causes of optimism

The exact causes of optimism are not fully understood, but several factors likely play a role.

Genetics, upbringing, culture, and other environmental influences can influence optimism.

Explanatory style or attributional style refers to how people explain the events of their lives. There are three facets of how people can explain a situation. This can influence whether they lean toward being optimists or pessimists.

Stable vs. Unstable: Can time change things, or do things stay the same regardless of time?

Global vs. Local: Is a situation a reflection of just one part of your life, or your life as a whole?

Internal vs. External: Do you feel events are caused by you or by an outside force?

How to practice optimism

Understandably, if you’re an optimist, this bodes well for your future. Negative events are more likely to roll off of your back while positive events affirm your belief in yourself, your ability to make good things happen now and in the future, and in the goodness of life.

There are things that you can do the help cultivate a more optimistic attitude. These include:

• Become more mindful: Mindfulness is a focus on being engaged, attentive, and present in the here and now

• Practice gratitude: Gratitude can be defined as an appreciation for what is important in life.

• Write down your positive emotions: Research has shown that something as simple as writing down positive thoughts can help improve your optimism

Impact of optimism

Optimism is important because it can have such a significant impact on your mental and physical well-being. Research has shown that an optimistic worldview carries certain advantages, such as:

• Better health• Greater achievement• Persistence• Emotional health• Increased longevity• Less stress

Potential pitfalls

Optimism is generally a positive characteristic that confers a number of physical and mental health benefits. But this does not mean that is doesn't have a few potential pitfalls. Some ways that optimism can be detrimental include

• Optimism bias: Sometimes excessive optimism can lead people to overestimate the likelihood that they can experience good things while avoiding bad things. The optimism bias suggests that people often underestimate their risk of experiencing negative outcomes. This can sometimes lead people to engage in risky behaviors that actually increase their chances of having a bad outcome.

• Poor risk assessment: When people are overly optimistic about something, they may be less likely to think about all of the potential risks and take steps to mitigate those issues. This can ultimately make it more likely that their efforts might fail, or at least run into major problems along the way.

• Toxic positivity: Sometimes people tend to overvalue positive feelings while ignoring or even repressing negative ones. It can also cause people to invalidate the emotional experiences of people who are going through difficult time

Optimists can avoid some of these pitfalls by focusing on maintaining a healthy, realistic approach to positivity. Rather than focusing only on "staying positive" and ignoring other emotions the goal should be to try to look on the bright side while still acknowledging the difficulties of the situation.

Thanks to Verywell Mind and Elizabeth Scott, Ph.D. for much of the content in today’s column as the focus is geared to the mental health and wellness areas. A more detailed and longer version is available at the VeryWell Mind website

Wishing everyone a more optimistic outlook and endeavoring to make this approach a reality in these uncertain and challenging times.

Additional Information

Check out the reference link below from the Mayo Clinic which focuses on positive thinking and its role in reducing stress: mayoclinic.org.

Mark A. Mahoney, Ph.D. has been a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist for over 35 years and completed graduate studies in Nutrition & Public Health at Columbia University. He can be reached at marqos69@hotmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: How can we better focus on optimism in our daily lives?