Positive psychology is an emerging field recognized by the American Psychological Association, and many experts who design stress-control programs harness its principles.
It focuses on determining and promoting the factors that permit people to thrive.
Rather than search for the roots of unhappiness, research coming out of this field investigates the ingredients of a good life and weighs the effects of traits like optimism, humor, and even eccentricity.
Optimists, for example, tend to do better than pessimists when coping with stressful situations. They are more likely to put a positive spin on stressors, look for ways to make the best of a bad situation, and use problem-solving strategies to tackle difficulties. Some studies indicate that optimists often fare better physically, too.
A long-term study of more than 830 Mayo Clinic patients published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings in 2000 found that those classified as pessimists had a 19% higher risk of mortality over the course of 30 years than those who were optimists.
A 10-year study of 1,300 men based on data drawn from the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study was reported in Psychosomatic Medicine in 2001. It suggested that a sense of optimism may protect older men against developing heart disease.
If you're not a natural optimist, this information could merely fuel your pessimism. Don't let it. Take a deep breath and relax. Evidence suggests avoiding pessimism is more important than boosting optimism.
It's true that there are people with naturally sunny natures, but it's equally true that the way you handle yourself emotionally owes a great deal to nurture. With practice, your current outlook and behaviors can change for the better.
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