We all know that a “glass half full” attitude in life will take you far. Even most pessimists (though they hate to) will admit that those folks at least seem to be happier. Now, according to researchers, that positive attitude may attribute to more than a happy disposition, it could mean a healthier, longer life. Here’s the scoop from a posting at Prevention.com:

“Negativity may appear to be a great defense mechanism: If you keep your expectations low enough, you won’t be crushed when things don’t work out. But new research has revealed that the tendency to be a wet blanket in just about any situation–a trait the experts call “dispositional pessimism”–doesn’t merely ruin a good time and prevent you from making friends. It seems that it’s a bad strategy by about every measure. Optimists, it turns out, do better in most avenues of life, whether it’s work, school, sports, or relationships. They get depressed less often than pessimists do, make more money, and have happier marriages.”

The full article has more details on how even subtle changes towards optimism can make significant health related shifts in the average pessimist. The moral of the story: It’s never too late turn that frown upside down!


Explore other posts about: , ,