The way you perceive the world can significantly impact your life. Embracing a positive outlook may not only enhance your well-being but could also add years to your life. As Theodore Roosevelt wisely observed, “Believe you can, and you’re halfway there.”

An analysis of data from more than 69 000 women in the Nurses’ Health Study and more than 1 400 men in the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study (NAS) found that optimism is specifically related to an 11 to 15 per cent longer lifespan. The participants of these studies have been monitored since 1976 (women) and 1986 (men) respectively.

Optimism seems to increase the odds of living to the age of 85 or beyond, also known as ‘exceptional longevity.’ These relations were independent of health behaviors (alcohol use, diet and smoking), social integration, health conditions, socioeconomic status and depression.

The Definition of Optimism

Optimism is seen as ‘a psychological attribute characterized as the general expectation that good things will happen, or the belief that the future will be favorable because one can control important outcomes’.

The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines optimism as: a doctrine that this world is the best possible world; an inclination to put the most favorable construction upon actions and events or to anticipate the best possible outcome.

How Optimism Can Add Years To Your Life

It seems that people are more likely to engage in healthy behaviors when they have an optimistic world view, according to a review in Circulation Research. It is further speculated that optimistic individuals tend to have goals as well as the added confidence to reach them, making them less likely to engage in unhealthy impulses. Optimism has also been linked with healthier biomarker profiles, including metabolic systems, lower inflammation levels as well improved pulmonary function.

Medical Doctor, Dr. Sulagna Misra, told the Epoch Times that “We are continually uncovering the deep connection between the mind and body in the context of healing. Individuals with a more positive outlook tend to experience enhanced immune responses, better sleep, healthier eating habits, and increased physical activity. These factors contribute to a reduced risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease, improved pain tolerance and management, and overall better psychological and psychosocial well-being.”

Angel Planells, registered dietician nutritionist with a master of science degree and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told the Epoch Times, that optimism is linked to stronger immune function, which can help to decrease illness. It’s also linked to healthier levels of cortisol, which, when chronically elevated can lead to various health issues.

“Optimists tend to handle stress more effectively by engaging in proactive coping tactics and are less likely to experience the detrimental aspects of chronic stress,” Planells added.  

How To Foster A Positive Outlook

Plannels emphasized the importance of staying present and practising stress management techniques to cultivate greater optimism.

“It’s easy to play the role of a Monday-morning quarterback, but staying present through deep breathing and remaining calm, even when you feel like crying, cracking, yelling, or screaming, is crucial. By reframing our thought processes, we can discover the positive aspects or lessons in any situation,” Plannels advised.

Plannels further suggested celebrating small victories.

“No matter how large or small, we have to celebrate the wins when they come. Whether it is an improved lab value, a reduction or gain in weight, a decrease in medication, or gaining strength during recovery – they all are wins in my book.”

Dr. Misra, shared the following tips with the Epoch Times on how to foster optimism:

• Avoid sensationalism (especially in social media)
• Work with a therapist/ psychiatrist or other mental health experts to learn about your specific individual stressors. Learn how to handle them better or how to avoid triggers which may increase stress in the body as much as possible.
• If you don’t have the financial means to get mental help access, make sure to lean heavily into your positive social circle.
• “Balance play with work, get regular exercise, go outdoors, eat nutrient-dense foods, focus on improving quality and quantity of sleep, enhance your social circle, prioritize identifying what IS important to you versus what SHOULD feel important to you! (No Should-ing!).”
• Talk about how you are feeling! “Keeping things inside and keeping it in the dark, is how shame and guilt survive.”
• Positivity and optimism are individual experiences:

“Living a life that others see as ideal, but is not your authentic life, does not lead to “happiness” and may exacerbate or cause chronic diseases and stress.”

Dr. Misra noted that the world is changing rapidly, leaving many of us struggling to keep up with the pace. “In today’s fast-paced environment, we often feel pressure to meet certain standards, a phenomenon amplified by social media, which tends to highlight sensational content designed to target our psychology, influence our behavior, and trigger specific emotions.”

“This is leading to a cognitive dissonance or a separation between the life we should be living and the life we actually are living. We need to collectively learn how to appreciate what “is” and not what “should be.” It is easier said than done and often the saying “it takes a village” applies here,” she added.  

“It is not easy to eradicate negative self-talk, it is not easy to change your behavior with respect to eating and sleeping, we cannot change ALL stressors that we come across, however, the one thing humans can change is our response,” Dr Misra concluded.