Optimists are Healthier and Live Longer - The ABC's for Pessimists

Every Monday, That's Fit's very own "charged up" wellness guru Laura Lewis presents The Passion Principle, a weekly guide that will help you achieve your greatest potential through words of inspiration, cutting-edge ideas and action tips you can use in your every day life!

I am an admitted member of the optimist club. As a matter of fact, a dear friend of mine claims that I am eternally optimistic. In spite of what appear to be roadblocks or hindrances that occasionally get in my way, I remain optimistic. I always believe in the most positive outcome. I don my rose colored glasses as I rise each morning to meet the day. Some may say I am crazy. Yet, I would rather hang out on the side of being happy, joyous and positive than being in a dark pessimistic space. The good news, according to recent research, is that I'm going to be happier and live a longer life. Alright!

Researchers consistently show proof that optimists do live longer and are healthier. Check out these interesting tidbits they've discovered.

• In one review of a Women's Health Initiative study with more than 100,000 participants, researchers found that optimists who expected good things instead of bad things to happen were 14 percent less likely to die than pessimists.
  
• Optimists were 30 percent less likely to die from heart disease, which was discovered during eight years of follow-up to the same study.
  
• Highly mistrustful or "Cynically Hostile" women were 16 percent more likely to die during the study period than those who were much more trusting. And the most alarming point: They had a 23 percent higher likelihood to die from cancer!
• Harvard researchers studying positive and negative thinkers tracked students who at age 25 were optimists and found they were healthier at ages 45 and 60 than their pessimist counterparts.
• Mayo Clinic College of Medicine researchers found that pessimists were more likely to develop Parkinson's disease and dementia as compared to optimistic thinkers.
  
• Pessimism has been linked with lower incomes, increased risk of disease, suppression of the immune system, higher stress levels and shorter lifespans.

The good news for pessimists: You can defect to our side! Yes, it is possible to change the basic nature of being a pessimist.

The ABC's of Becoming an Optimist

A -- Act "as if." Remember how Clare from the film "Clueless" would say ... "As if!"? Give the phrase a twist and "act" as if all is OK. Stop acting like the worst is going to happen. I know, your pessimist views might make it difficult at first, so I recommend you "pretend" to be a positive person. Slow down and become conscious of your thoughts and the words you say. As you continue to "act" positive, there is a good chance you will actually begin to feel positive.

B -- Be a "Positivity" Magnet. Hang around positive people. If you are around others who are dragging you down, ditch them. Birds of a feather do indeed flock together. I remember one time I was scheduled to attend a conference with several other people. The event coordinator had found a huge townhouse we were all to stay in. I had arrived earlier and got there without a problem. The remaining seven people arrived separately but then congregated in the living area and began to share their nightmare travel stories of the day. One, after another, after another. Talk about feeding negativity. My optimist point of view was to get on with life and let go of the negative elements of the day. Be observant for these types of situations and either try to shift the focus or get the heck out of there.

C -- Commit to Being Happy. Yea, yea. Easier said than done, you pessimists are saying. However, here is a simple exercise that might help you change your mind. I want you to find a rubber band that is somewhat "wide," not thin. Place it on your wrist. Now, whenever you find yourself thinking a negative thought or saying something that feeds your negativity, snap your wrist fairly hard with the rubber band. You're snapping yourself out of being negative. Now say either out loud or silently an affirming statement such as, "I am a positive and happy person, and I consistently attract wonderful people and situations into my life." Or try, "Happiness flows into my life easily and effortlessly. I am happy and content." Or make up something that works for you -- just keep it in the present tense and never use terms like "I will."

Are you an optimist or a pessimist? Take this quiz and find out now!