PSYCHOLOGY

This Is Your Brain on Optimism

New research reveals the biological roots of positive thinking. How a rosy outlook can affect your health.

By Sarah Kliff | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Oct 24, 2007 | Updated: 1:06  p.m. ET Oct 24, 2007

« Return to Article

Discuss

Member Comments

  • Posted By: survivorrich @ 10/29/2007 7:51:03 PM

    Optimism is a choice. Believing that "*** happens" is a choice. Despite what happens to you and the world around you, it is 100% your choice how you choose to view it. For your own happiness and well being, you can choose to see EVERY situation in a positive light. Even death, loss, war, and hate can be viewed from multiple perspectives. Focus on the good in everything, and live happily...if you choose to.

    • Posted By: Mnt_Man_1966 @ 10/31/2007 3:10:36 PM

      ok so how many health problems do you have? Are you able to work? Have you lost everything you own? Have you lost your wife/husband?

      All of you can kiss my --- if you think any one of you could have gone through any of that smiling. Just tell me one thing that was good about any of that and I'll say you are right....otherwise take your positive thinking bs and sell it to someone who believes it!!!

      • Posted By: artsnews @ 03/06/2009 12:24:49 AM

        May I say to you that optimism is the oldest way of thinkiing in the history of our world. Remember your ancestor, the first man? On the day of the warm sun, when he did not know the icey cold night lasting 9-12 hours, he believed it was always going to be like that. When the freezing night came finally, he thought, "I hope that warmth will return soon, or else I die." How about meeting the Tyrannosaurus Rex? The early man saw him around the corner of the cave and said, "I hope he does not eat me for lunch." Fast forward to the future. I see my wife standing close to a good looking man. I want to believe that he did not make her warmer than me. You see, life is about hope, but on the brighter side of things. Never give up friend and try to be happy even though it is work!

  • Posted By: lenajc @ 11/23/2007 9:03:04 PM

    "The disparity between positive and pessimistic minds is especially prominent in areas of the brain that have been linked to depression."
    Jeez, I never would have guessed that.

  • Posted By: arlemd777 @ 11/02/2007 5:32:32 AM

    If the Law of Attraction is true, you tent to get what you expect, whether it is GOOD (positive) or BAD (negative). Every thought, feeling, word or act we have done in the past, being aware of them or not, now comes to our life as a harvest or attraction. What "ye sow, ye reap" . :)

  • Posted By: justnorris @ 10/30/2007 7:46:58 PM

    I like your large lettering. Now I can sit back at my desk with my feet up instead of having to have my face up to the screen. Great move.

  • Posted By: shoesnbeans @ 10/30/2007 3:04:55 PM

    I totally agree with tonolaw. My personal approach to optimism is to remember how fortunate I am. No matter what adverse occurances my befall us, we can all find SOMETHING to be thankful for. When I need a boost, I force myself to analize and find something to feel thankful for. This breeds the optimistic thoughts for me. Its not a cure for pessimism or depression but it sure curtails selfish thinking and brings me a sense of peace.

  • Posted By: Mnt_Man_1966 @ 10/29/2007 2:38:42 PM

    Lol is all I can think to say to you who think that saying things like "It's going to be a great day." will actually make a day great. Last I checked we effect some circumstances in our day to day life but get real.....do you really think that your thought of what you want the day to be will actually make everything peachy. Once again some people don't use what is on top of thier shoulders to understand certin practical thoughts.

    I told my wife I loved her and would see her when she returned the day she drove off and never came back. Hmmmm guess thinking positively doesn't apply to all facets of our lives eh?????????

    • Posted By: tonolaw @ 10/29/2007 9:43:30 PM

      Mnt_Man_1966, My heart breaks with you in your loss and grief. I don't believe any amount of positive thinking can prevent certain things from happening. Life happens --both good and bad. Don't confuse positive thinking with telepathy. Just thinking or saying something will or will not happen does not make it so. Having a positive outlook doesn't prevent tragedy, but it helps one cope and deal with life in a way that minimizes its effects on one's mental, emotional, and physical health. I lost one of my best friends in Dec 2006. No amount of positive thinking could have prevented this tragedy. Ten months later I am still grieving. I know she is in a better place where she is happy, but that doesn't mean I don't miss seeing her and having her in my life. However, as much as I miss her, I have not allowed this loss to prevent me from enjoying and appreciating the other things I still have in my life. I know that at any moment one or all of these things could be taken away from me. My optimism is not based on some unsubstantiated, naive, feel-good, warm fuzzy belief that everything is going to be just fine. More than likely the reality is just the opposite. My optimism is anchored in the sovereign God who has revealed Himself in the Bible as the One who loves me and is in control of all the details of my life --both the "good" and the "bad". I have had hard times in my life, but He is always there to carry me through. Does that mean I don't use my brain or just let things happen? Of course not! It means that I don''t stress or worry about things that are out of my control. Is this easy? No, not always, but I find that when I leave the worrying and the details to God, I come out on top, no matter what. I hope and pray you will discover the freedom and joy of trusting Him.

  • Posted By: btdempsey @ 10/29/2007 3:15:13 PM

    Positive/Negative, Good/Evil, Optimism/Pessimism, Yes/No, God/Satan, Smile/Frown, Generous/Selfish, Do Not Kill During War/Do Kill During War, Heaven/Hell, Donate Timeand Energy to the Undeserving and Downtrodden/Do Not Donate Time and Energy to the Undeserving and Downtrodden, Thank the Police for Kicking Ass/ Do Not Thank the Police for Kicking Ass, Support our Leader(s)/Do Not, , , Get It Yet America?

  • Posted By: NoelMum @ 10/29/2007 3:13:49 PM

    Dear Mnt_Man~ honestly, I read that you told your wife the truth. You shall see her, when she returns, when you return to her..when I lose my loved ones, I know full heartedly, that they are now safe from harm, pain, suffering, upsets, .. I count one more..with Jesus etc, all our ancestors and friends n pets, and I get to just count days, I am left, living to fullest purpose..makin it a ggood day, etc for someone else, and laffin i=f it was good for me..like Ihad with Gramie, etc.. and that IS oft better than those who didnt have, say, your love wife. See? Sure, we are wiser after losing her..honour the Lord thy God, by pulling in during your pain, closer, not jaded..anyone can be bitter, it aint a fee-good place, so it isn't of our quality..ok? Closer will feel right. Love you

  • Posted By: NoelMum @ 10/29/2007 3:07:51 PM

    Dear Mnt_Man~ honestly, I read that you told your wife the truth. You shall see her, when she returns, when you return to her..when I lose my loved ones, I know full heartedly, that they are now safe from harm, pain, suffering, upsets, .. I count one more..with Jesus etc, all our ancestors and friends n pets, and I get to just count days, I am left, living to fullest purpose..makin it a ggood day, etc for someone else, and laffin i=f it was good for me..like Ihad with Gramie, etc.. and that IS oft better than those who didnt have, say, your love wife. See? Sure, we are wiser after losing her..honour the Lord thy God, by pulling in during your pain, closer, not jaded..anyone can be bitter, it aint a fee-good place, so it isn't of our quality..ok? Closer will feel right. Love you

  • Posted By: n_brooke @ 10/29/2007 3:03:11 PM

    I disagree with MoutainMan. I believe that positive thinking can definately change your actions in your day to day life. yes there are a lot of circumstances that can happen that are out of our control. Death is the only constant in life, we will all die and death is sad but how you LIVE your life is your control for the most part. Believing in positive outcomes and positive situations creates more positive situations b/c it affects the way you act leading up to the final outcomes. I am sorry to hear about your wife. However, were you thinking LOVE and positive thoughts when you told her loved her that morning? You can say anything you want to say but the truth is in your actual thoughts which perpetuate the outcomes of many situations.

  • Posted By: cindyruss76 @ 10/29/2007 2:51:20 PM

    Though I enjoyed this article, I do believe there is a part of the article that should be included. I am a optimist, but have found it to be more difficult more so lately. I questioned why this would be happening and found that I as others I had talked to agreed on what has happened to out society. We are bombarded with perscription advertisement to tell us (on such vague syptoms also) that we as a nation are sick. So if there is not enough optimism, do you not think that quite possibly the medical profession should possibly do research on this subject? Or is this a get rich scheme from the pharmacy companies? It is to a point where I have muted all such comercials and have told all friends and family to do the same thing to improve their mental outlooks.

    Shame on our society for allowing this to happen! Bring peace of mind back to yourselves and put your televisions on mute for your health. Demand someone to research this!

  • Posted By: cindyruss76 @ 10/29/2007 2:50:04 PM

    Though I enjoyed this article, I do believe there is a part of the article that should be included. I am a optimist, but have found it to be more difficult more so lately. I questioned why this would be happening and found that I as others I had talked to agreed on what has happened to out society. We are bombarded with perscription advertisement to tell us (on such vague syptoms also) that we as a nation are sick. So if there is not enough optimism, do you not think that quite possibly the medical profession should possibly do research on this subject? Or is this a get rich scheme from the pharmacy companies? It is to a point where I have muted all such comercials and have told all friends and family to do the same thing to improve their mental outlooks.

    Shame on our society for allowing this to happen! Bring peace of mind back to yourselves and put your televisions on mute for your health. Demand someone to research this!

  • Posted By: blueeyesheaven @ 10/29/2007 2:46:59 PM

    Fascinating. My theory which I call Inner-Yoga which is about spiritual or idealistic communication (about which I have recently written a book) is that all communication is in fact emotional at some level. Reflective abilities are there basically to help us feel better and function better. These reflective abilities yield moods of love which helps us empathize and feel, peace which helps us think and be aware, and joy which helps us to play along with life and to create or re-create our own experience of things. I get a great feeling just reading the book as it must be triggering a kind of "high" in me, I theorize that such "highs" are connected to species and individual survival. Thanks for the information, its breathtakingly beautiful to see human exploration taking such leaps.

  • Posted By: Mnt_Man_1966 @ 10/29/2007 2:41:47 PM

    Or maybe I was thinking the wrong positive thought. Maybe I should have said "When you are coming home you won't be involved in a multiple car accident that will take your life."

  • Posted By: Lunazen111 @ 10/29/2007 1:36:45 PM

    This is such an appropriate article for what I've been going through recently and an epiphany that I had yesterday. I recently had a mole removed that I was worried was melanoma. The mole had been there for about a year, but for some reason, I didn't go to the doctor when I first noticed it. Therefore, I was absolutely terrified that it was not only melanoma but that I'd waited too long and it was too late. I was beating myself up for not being on top of things a year ago. I ended up in the ER for anxiety, and got myself a prescription for Zoloft (which I was on before, in 2001)

    Last Wednesday the biopsy came back normal. Since then, I've had this nagging feeling that I don't want to take Zoloft. Finally yesterday I told my husband my thoughts, and explained to him what I'd realized: that a lot of anxiety and depression is a result of not living a conscious life, of not taking control of the things we can control (the mole, for example). I realized I didn't need the Zoloft to be ok, that I needed to take charge of my life, and my health, that I needed to feel both the ups and the downs of existence, because that is life. I needed that mole to show me that my terror was not about the mole itself, but my inaction from a year ago, much as this article suggests "Optimism motivates individuals to take control of their lives, while depression has been found to have the opposite effect."

  • Posted By: samanthaw @ 10/29/2007 1:15:44 PM

    Being optomistic is a HUGE part of living a healthy life. If everyday you wake up and look in the mirror and say, "This is going to be a great day!" then chances are, it will. You could wake up and not want to even get out of bed, and be in the worst mood, but if you just say those words, subconsciously, you will feel better through the day. People that have a negative outlook on life tend to be depressed , very emotional and holds their emotions inside. If you just express your feelings in a healthy way, you will start to notice a happy you! If you are suffering from being sad, try exercising! It releases endorphines which make you happy! :D

  • Posted By: Mnt_Man_1966 @ 10/29/2007 12:17:46 PM

    I was born in 1966 as my nic name implies. I have had a heart attack at the ripe old age of 28 and lived several years with faltering health. I have had 3 back surgeries since the ripe old age of 21 my last (which was 6 years ago) ending in the loss of the majority of use in my left leg. I have been married 2 times and lost my 2nd wife in a car accident in 2004. Due to the fact that my wife was the primary income of our household I lost our house. Her(what I thought was our) family turned thier backs on me leav ing me practially destitute. I've attempted scuicide, been institiutionalized, and take anti depressants.

    Now I am in a healthy relationship with a beutiful woman and her wonderful children. And we looking forward to begining a new business in a new house in a new country soon. And guess what. I still have bad days. But life moves on. I'm not positive about it being all things made of fairytales. That isn't real life. Problems arise some we just get through, some we can't, some we learn from, some we don't. Some days are great, some are so-so, and some we would just like to stash away and forget.

    Does positive thinking get me through every day? No. Does getting off my ass and making something happen? Not always. Is there a real answer for everything? Never!

    Get on with life there aren't answers to everything and even when there are answers.... not every answer is one we want to hear, not every answer is an easy one. I say take it as it comes good or bad it's life. DEAL WITH IT!!!!

  • Posted By: Mnt_Man_1966 @ 10/29/2007 11:23:12 AM

    Once again. For those who misunderstand my post. I don't have any doubt that positive thinking has a place in our lives. But I honestly can't see where it will affect every aspect of our lives. Simply put: A person who sits on thier backside and has great positive think abilities is still a person that sits on thier backside.

    I say get up move make things happen. positive thinking won't bring you everything. It may give some essance of happiness but there are many other things that need to be in the mix of life than just thinking happy thoughts.

    • Posted By: MountnMermaid007 @ 10/29/2007 11:43:17 AM

      Once upon a time in a land far, far away .... I used to think like you, and in truth had little compassion for those who struggled to "get up and get moving". I used to be a massage therapist for a chiropractor by trade, and was VERY strong, not quite a Russian Shot-put athelete but practiced yoga, tai chi, lifted wieghts, biked, ate well. Then tragedy hit. Like an unexpected tsunami! It can happen, some of us reach our limits...I never realized I had limits...I felt I was limitless, and spiritually I am but my body decided I am not. So I am saying sometimes to "just get up and move" is only a partial answer. Optimism is not simply happy thoughts...it's much deeper than that...it's believing there is hope...it's having hope that life can be beautiful again, and if not beautiful, then that some of our smallest dreams can be realized. I believe my depression, however hard I fight it, still affects my health. I want to attack my depression first as a priority, then my eating habits, then my exercise regimens. I don't know how old you are Mtn_Man but it is not true that life gets easier with age. Life is a challenge at any age.

Reply

Report Abuse

Enter comments if any for reporting abuse