By Jennifer Fiorillo
Mental Health
Jennifer Fiorillo
There are very few people I’ve encountered who haven’t been challenged by the many curveballs life throws our way. We have all heard the old adage, “life is 10 percent of what happens to you and 90 percent how you react to it.” Some may be skeptical of this statement, and others argue that it really is all about your attitude and how you view life’s curveballs. So what role does optimism play in managing personal challenges and our health?
Optimism is a mental attitude that involves having confidence and hopefulness about successful outcomes and the future. Optimistic people tend to anticipate good results, even in the most difficult of situations. They share a number of key characteristics that include believing they will succeed in the face of challenges, viewing the future as bright and expecting that things will work out for the best. Optimists view setbacks as learning experiences and opportunities for growth.
There are a number of studies that have reported a positive effect of optimism on anxiety and depression. Optimism has been seen as a way to protect mental health by offering cognitive resources that aid in coping and reducing the negative effects of stressful life events. And because optimism helps to reduce these negative effects, it also has a positive impact on our health by reducing the likelihood of increased inflammation and chronic illness that are directly linked to our emotional health.
Research has explored potential links between optimism and other positive health outcomes. A 2019 review and meta-analysis published in JAMA Network Open outlined results of studies conducted to analyze the association of optimism with cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. Out of the 15 studies reviewed that included almost 230,000 participants (10 studies reported on data of cardiovascular events and nine reported data on all-case mortality), optimism was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular events and mortality of all causes.
Optimistic people are more likely to practice healthy behaviors including eating right, staying active and not smoking. The connection between the mind and body can be powerful in improving our own physical and mental health.
Can a pessimistic person by nature work on becoming more optimistic? The answer is yes. Optimism can be cultivated by working on our internal thoughts and allowing ourselves to experience gratitude or appreciation of what is important in life. Something as simple as spending a few minutes journaling the things we are grateful for can help us to see the world a little differently. Practicing mindfulness and being present in the here and now can help to ground us and help us worry less about the future and things beyond our control. It’s also helpful to challenge negative or limiting thinking and work to replace that with positive thoughts. Developing a better understanding of the situations that generate negative thoughts and questioning their validity with objectivity can help aid in this process. A little healthy mental exercise can go a long way.
Jennifer Fiorillo, MBA, MPH is the president and CEO of Bridges Healthcare in Milford, and may be reached at Jfiorillo@bridgesmilford.org.