Optimism simply refers to confidence and hopefulness in something or the future. It is a state of the mind that communicates a sense of assurance that everything will be fine. This article discusses the health benefits of Optimism
Many medical studies show that emotions optimism and pessimism can affect our health and well-being. The positive thinking that usually comes with optimism is crucial in stress management. Effective stress management is linked with many health benefits. The benefits of optimism can not be overemphasized in this world of great uncertainties.
Several health benefits emanate from an optimistic mindset. Generally, an optimistic person tends to have a better state of mental health considering the boost of positivity the brain receives.
Health Benefits of Optimism
Being optimistic doesn’t mean that you be happy and ignore unpleasant situations. Optimism just means that you approach unpleasant circumstances in a more positive and productive way. You show positive thinking that the best is going to happen, not the worst. Below are some of the health benefits of optimism:
1. Boosts mental health
Optimism naturally negates depression, which is a great mental health danger. An optimistic person is generally happier than a pessimist. This positive feeling helps to keep negative thoughts away, in turn creating a saner mindset with positive health effects that trickles down to every part of the body. Research has proven that optimism plays a role in boosting mental health and wellness.
2. Improves Cardiovascular health
The heart is strongly connected to emotions and feelings. The signals the heart gets from these inputs will have a great effect on cardiovascular health. Optimism helps to improve cardiovascular health by eliminating worry, which is a great stressor for the heart. Worry, which usually originates from fear, hurts the heart by causing the heart to beat faster and best in an irregular manner. But the calm and assuring outlook of an optimistic mind helps to keep the heart at rest.
3. Increases recovery rate
Several years of scientific research has discovered that an optimistic person recovers faster from illness than a pessimistic person. The key here is the energy that the body receives from the positive, and hopeful state of an optimistic mind. When diagnosed with a chronic disease, optimism is what keeps the optimistic person afloat despite the gloomy reality. This state of optimism has been proven to be a great booster of any medical recovery process. Pessimistic people always find it harder to deal with a difficult reality hence their high susceptibility to depression.
4. Reduces stress
Stress is that negative feeling that arises from being emotionally or physically tensed or nervous. Stress plays a major role in causing sicknesses such as headaches, and high blood pressure. Stress equally abates and empowers other illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, heart diseases, etc. The state of optimism helps a person to eliminate stress by eliminating most of the stressors that trigger it. Living with a hopeful and optimistic disposition at all times will help to cut out stress leading to a healthier life.
5. Improves overall health
It has been medically researched, and discovered that optimism plays a very important role in the overall wellness of the body. A state of total wellness encompasses sound mental health and strong physical health. optimism helps greatly to maintain both physical and mental health. Considering all the physical and mental benefits of a positive outlook in life it is obvious how important the role optimism can play in maintaining a general state of health.
How to develop optimism
Here are some simple ways to become an optimistic person and develop a positive outlook:
- Practice positive self-talk
- Show gratitude often
- Be open to humor
- See the bright side of any situation
- Live a healthy lifestyle
- Surround yourself with positive people.
- Smile more
Bottom Line
Optimism and pessimism are both choices, there is no verifiable evidence of any benefit of pessimism, but they’re enormous health benefits of optimism. It is far more rewarding for health to develop an optimistic outlook in life.
