Optimism is good for morale… and health. According to a new study, optimists live much longer than pessimists. Forget the glass half empty, opt for the glass half full!
This is certainly not the first survey to remind pessimists that life is unfair. But this is the first to take into account so many people (160,000 women) and above all a majority of ethnic groups.
5.4% more life
On average, optimism increases lifespan by 5.4%. Lifestyle and lifestyle only “marginally” affect this result.
And some 53% of these women are over 90 years old. In addition, this report reinforces the data from a previous analysis, from 2019, this time focusing on women and men.
Don’t confuse optimism with positive thinking.
Be careful, however: researchers speak of optimism, not of “positive thinking”. “Being optimistic does not mean avoiding stressors,” the researchers explain. “But when something negative happens, optimists don’t blame themselves and see the obstacle more as temporary or even ultimately positive.” Thus, this way of seeing things would also play on heart health and less fatty food. Because in times of stress, we tend to go for comfort foods, which are therefore sweeter and fattier.
However, being pessimistic is not inevitable. The brain can be “trained” to see life on the positive side. Admittedly, this requires regular effort (many exercises exist, such as writing down five positive things in your life every day, or writing a diary listing only the positive things in your daily life…). But it’s worth it.
In short, as the saying goes, “To live old, live happily”…