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Do you consider yourself an optimist?
If yes, researchers from Harvard, Boston University and the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System have great news for you: They have shown a link between optimism and longer life expectancy. In fact, the research participants that were most optimistic lived 10 to 15 percent longer and had a 50 to 70 percent chance of reaching age 85!
Optimists tend to look favorably on life and the future. They not only are more likely to expect positive outcomes, but also tend to look for and find opportunities in negative situations.
But what if you or your loved ones tend toward pessimism or become more pessimistic when feeling overly stressed? Are you doomed to remain pessimistic?
No! Because optimism can be learned and practiced. Even if you are generally optimistic, consider the following ideas to nurture optimism in yourself or others:
• Give yourself credit. Think about some accomplishments of which you are proud. December is a great time to reflect on the year's accomplishments, but don't limit yourself to what has happened in 2019. What challenges have you overcome? Have you completed a project that was difficult or that required you to step outside your comfort zone? Take 10 to 15 minutes and write out these accomplishments.
• Practice positive self-talk. Self-talk is the conversation we have with ourselves. It can be either negative or positive. Think of a time that you made a mistake. Did you beat yourself up over that mistake by saying something like, "I was stupid" or "I can't ever get things right," or did you practice positive self-talk by saying something like, "I'm doing the best I can." If you find yourself regularly using negative self-talk, write down some of the common phrases you use and change them into positive statements. You can also take out the list you just made as a reminder of the good you have done.
• See mistakes as opportunities. Thomas Edison is often quoted as saying the following about his many failed attempts before he invented the lightbulb: "I have not failed. I've found 10,000 ways that won't work." If Edison had quit at 100 failures, he never would have found the one way that did work. How can you see your mistakes as opportunities for growth and learning? Add your thoughts to the list you created earlier.
• Seek solutions to difficulties. When faced with a challenging situation, ask yourself, "What can I do?" or "How can I solve this problem?" Brainstorming potential solutions or asking friends for ideas is the first step in seeking solutions to challenges.
Another suggestion is to learn more. Harvard Health Publishing has a wealth of information about the link between optimism, health and aging, including:
• "Optimism: Good for your heart?" December 2019, www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/optimism-good-for-your-heart.
• "New Evidence that Optimists Live Longer," August 2019, www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/new-evidence-that-optimists-live-longer/.
• "Five Ways to Hold on to Optimism," January 2017, www.health.harvard.edu/blog/hold-optimism-reap-health-benefits-2017012011003.
• "Optimism and Your Health," May 2008, www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/optimism-and-your-health.
During this holiday season, take time out to review the year, celebrate your successes, and look forward to a positive and productive new year.
* Heather Greenwood is with the University of Hawaii Manoa Cooperative Extension, Maui Intergenerational and Aging Programs. "Aging Matters" covers topics of interest to the aging Maui community and appears on the third Saturday of each month.