This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at BC chapter.
We’ve all had less than good days. Between papers, midterms, work, and trying to have a decent social life it’s easy to get stressed out. While it is easy to allow all of the buildup from our stress to make us see the glass half empty, it really is important for our health to keep our chins up and try to see the good in everything. Optimism makes you happy and being happy is beneficial in multiple areas of your life.
Here are 10 surprising facts that you might not know about optimistic people:
- They feel good: Happiness and optimism is fun and it feels good.
- They live longer: One study followed nuns who wrote a short biographical sketch before taking their vows. At the age of 85, 90% of the nuns with cheerful biographies were still alive, compared to just 54% of the least cheerful. At 94 years of age, 54% of the most cheerful quarter were alive compared to only 11% of the least cheerful.
- Have better health: The link between stress and illness is very well known. Happy, positive feelings change the chemical make up of our bodies, producing chemicals that enhance immunity, cell repair and building strength.
- Bounce back faster from difficult times: Optimistic people see bad things as temporary and good things as permanent. Their positive expectation of good things helps them see and act on options and opportunities faster.
- Are more likely to be romantically involved: Happier people are more attractive and being happier makes you more likely to be attracted to someone else.
- Solve problems better and faster: People who are positive or who are in a good mood are able to solve problems better and faster. Their solutions are also more inventive and they concentrate better.
- Look for the win-win: Positive emotions create a completely different way of thinking in our bodies, so we are more likely to want to learn, explore and grow in some way.
- They are less violent: The physiological state caused by happiness helps people see the win-win solutions and be drawn to avoid conflict.
- Are more likely to help others: Happy people are more willing to share their good fortune to help others than unhappy people.
- Are lucky: Because they see the bright side to things, optimistic people are more likely to make lemonade when life gives them lemons
Sources:
http://www.happylifeu.com/Why_Happiness.html
Photo Sources:
http://theberry.com/2012/05/19/surprise-need-a-little-motivation-28-photos/