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Optimism isn’t about being oblivious to the bad stuff. That’s denial. Optimism defines how we interpret and think about ourselves and the world around us. It’s about:

It’s probably not a surprise that optimistic thinkers tend to be happier than pessimistic thinkers. But there are other benefits to being optimist. Here are five that may surprise you.

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1. Optimists Live Longer

One large study published in 2019 determined that optimists have a life span 11% to 15% longer than average, and are more likely to live to age 85 or older. Optimists lived longer even independent of variables like socioeconomic status, health conditions, depression, social integration, and healthy behaviors.

When given a poor but manageable health prognosis, pessimists are more likely to becomefatalisticand see only an inevitable death sentence. Optimists recognize the severity of their condition, but are more likely to take steps to cope with it.

2. Optimists Have Better Love Lives

Optimists have higher quality and longer-lasting romantic relationships, according to researchers from Stanford University. And, perhaps surprisingly, these results hold when only one partner is an optimist. Psychologists believe optimism leads to a greater sense of perceived support from a partner, which helps couples fight fair. When asked about a point of contention in the relationship, both optimistic thinkers and their partners were more likely to say that the other partner was invested in making the relationship better, leading to greater conflict resolution.

Other research shows that the more we idealize our partners, the happier we are in our relationships. Another study demonstrated that part of what makes romantic relationships positive and happy is cooperative problem-solving linked to optimism. Optimists can also help their partners be more healthy and become more optimistic.

What Is Optimism?

3. Optimists Are More Successful

Just as optimists tend to be more resilient outside of the workplace, they are also resilient on the job. Even if their bosses don’t recognize that they’re doing a good job, optimists are able to bounce back and keep performing well. People who are more optimistic also seem to have better job security than less optimistic workers, a 2019 study found. This improved security can even lead to increased optimism.

Plus, people who feel optimistic about their careers are more likely to both succeed at work and to feel satisfied with their jobs. There are a number of possible reasons for this, including that optimists are seen as being more charismatic, are more likely to persist until their goal is achieved, and find it easier to shake off a bad outcome so that it doesn’t affect them in their next attempt. Optimistic managers may be more effective at helping others to be productive and to achieve their goals.

4. Optimists Take Fewer Sick Days

Optimists get sick less often and get better more quickly.

5. Optimists Bounce Back Faster and Stronger

In a famous study of elite college varsity swim teams (published back in 1990), coaches told athletes to swim their best event. After the races, coaches provided false feedback about the results, adding a couple seconds. This difference was small enough be believable but large enough to cause disappointment in the swimmers.

They were then given a half hour to rest—and presumably, ruminate about the failure they just experienced—and then repeat the event. On their second attempt, pessimistic thinkers swam on average 1.6% slower than their first attempt. The optimistic thinkers, however, swam 0.5% faster than previously. In the competitive world of swimming, the difference between theoptimists and pessimistswas the difference between winning and losing an event.

Optimists, as it turns out, might actually use failure as fuel to perform even better in the future. More recent research on high-level athletes (in this case, wrestlers) shows that optimism helps protect them against burnout.

A Word From Verywell

As much of this research shows, optimism can be learned. If you’re not already blessed with it, you can work to develop it. And then you too can enjoy the many benefits that optimism brings.

How to Think Positive

11 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kim ES, Hagan KA, Grodstein F, Demeo DL, De Vivo I, Kubzansky LD.Optimism and Cause-Specific Mortality: A Prospective Cohort Study.Am J Epidemiol.2017;185(1):21-29. doi:10.1093/aje/kww182Lee LO, James P, Zevon ES, et al.Optimism is associated with exceptional longevity in 2 epidemiologic cohorts of men and women.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA.2019;116(37):18357-18362. doi:10.1073/pnas.1900712116Srivastava S, McGonigal KM, Richards JM, Butler EA, Gross JJ.Optimism in close relationships: How seeing things in a positive light makes them so.J Pers Soc Psychol.2006;91(1):143-153. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.91.1.143Murray SL, Griffin DW, Derrick JL, Harris B, Aloni M, Leder S.Tempting Fate or Inviting Happiness?: Unrealistic Idealization Prevents the Decline of Marital Satisfaction.Psychol Sci. 2011;22(5):619-626. doi:10.1177/0956797611403155Assad KK, Donnellan MB, Conger RD.Optimism: An enduring resource for romantic relationships.J Pers Soc Psychol. 2007;93(2):285-297. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.93.2.285Li WD, Li S, Fay D, Frese M.Reciprocal relationships between dispositional optimism and work experiences: A five-wave longitudinal investigation.J Appl Psychol.2019;104(12):1471-1486. doi:10.1037/apl0000417Spurk D, Kauffeld S, Barthauer L, Heinemann NSR.Fostering networking behavior, career planning and optimism, and subjective career success: An intervention study.J Voc Behav. 2015;87:134-144. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2014.12.007Diener E, Pressman SD, Hunter J, Delgadillo-Chase D.If, Why, and When Subjective Well‐Being Influences Health, and Future Needed Research.Appl Psychol Health Well Being.2017;9(2):133-167. doi:10.1111/aphw.12090Friedman EM, Ruini C, Foy R, Jaros L, Sampson H, Ryff CD.Lighten UP! A community-based group intervention to promote psychological well-being in older adults.Aging Ment Health. 2017;21(2):199-205. doi:10.1080/13607863.2015.1093605Seligman MEP, Nolen-Hoeksema S, Thornton N, Thornton KM.Explanatory Style as a Mechanism of Disappointing Athletic Performance.Psychol Sci. 1990;1(2). doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.1990.tb00084.xBerengui R, Garces de los Fayos Ruiz EJ, Ortin Montero FJ, de la Vega Marcos R, Lopez Gullon JM.Optimism and Burnout in Competitive Sport.Psychology. 2013;4(9A):13-18. doi:10.4236/psych.2013.49A2003

11 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kim ES, Hagan KA, Grodstein F, Demeo DL, De Vivo I, Kubzansky LD.Optimism and Cause-Specific Mortality: A Prospective Cohort Study.Am J Epidemiol.2017;185(1):21-29. doi:10.1093/aje/kww182Lee LO, James P, Zevon ES, et al.Optimism is associated with exceptional longevity in 2 epidemiologic cohorts of men and women.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA.2019;116(37):18357-18362. doi:10.1073/pnas.1900712116Srivastava S, McGonigal KM, Richards JM, Butler EA, Gross JJ.Optimism in close relationships: How seeing things in a positive light makes them so.J Pers Soc Psychol.2006;91(1):143-153. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.91.1.143Murray SL, Griffin DW, Derrick JL, Harris B, Aloni M, Leder S.Tempting Fate or Inviting Happiness?: Unrealistic Idealization Prevents the Decline of Marital Satisfaction.Psychol Sci. 2011;22(5):619-626. doi:10.1177/0956797611403155Assad KK, Donnellan MB, Conger RD.Optimism: An enduring resource for romantic relationships.J Pers Soc Psychol. 2007;93(2):285-297. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.93.2.285Li WD, Li S, Fay D, Frese M.Reciprocal relationships between dispositional optimism and work experiences: A five-wave longitudinal investigation.J Appl Psychol.2019;104(12):1471-1486. doi:10.1037/apl0000417Spurk D, Kauffeld S, Barthauer L, Heinemann NSR.Fostering networking behavior, career planning and optimism, and subjective career success: An intervention study.J Voc Behav. 2015;87:134-144. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2014.12.007Diener E, Pressman SD, Hunter J, Delgadillo-Chase D.If, Why, and When Subjective Well‐Being Influences Health, and Future Needed Research.Appl Psychol Health Well Being.2017;9(2):133-167. doi:10.1111/aphw.12090Friedman EM, Ruini C, Foy R, Jaros L, Sampson H, Ryff CD.Lighten UP! A community-based group intervention to promote psychological well-being in older adults.Aging Ment Health. 2017;21(2):199-205. doi:10.1080/13607863.2015.1093605Seligman MEP, Nolen-Hoeksema S, Thornton N, Thornton KM.Explanatory Style as a Mechanism of Disappointing Athletic Performance.Psychol Sci. 1990;1(2). doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.1990.tb00084.xBerengui R, Garces de los Fayos Ruiz EJ, Ortin Montero FJ, de la Vega Marcos R, Lopez Gullon JM.Optimism and Burnout in Competitive Sport.Psychology. 2013;4(9A):13-18. doi:10.4236/psych.2013.49A2003

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Kim ES, Hagan KA, Grodstein F, Demeo DL, De Vivo I, Kubzansky LD.Optimism and Cause-Specific Mortality: A Prospective Cohort Study.Am J Epidemiol.2017;185(1):21-29. doi:10.1093/aje/kww182Lee LO, James P, Zevon ES, et al.Optimism is associated with exceptional longevity in 2 epidemiologic cohorts of men and women.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA.2019;116(37):18357-18362. doi:10.1073/pnas.1900712116Srivastava S, McGonigal KM, Richards JM, Butler EA, Gross JJ.Optimism in close relationships: How seeing things in a positive light makes them so.J Pers Soc Psychol.2006;91(1):143-153. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.91.1.143Murray SL, Griffin DW, Derrick JL, Harris B, Aloni M, Leder S.Tempting Fate or Inviting Happiness?: Unrealistic Idealization Prevents the Decline of Marital Satisfaction.Psychol Sci. 2011;22(5):619-626. doi:10.1177/0956797611403155Assad KK, Donnellan MB, Conger RD.Optimism: An enduring resource for romantic relationships.J Pers Soc Psychol. 2007;93(2):285-297. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.93.2.285Li WD, Li S, Fay D, Frese M.Reciprocal relationships between dispositional optimism and work experiences: A five-wave longitudinal investigation.J Appl Psychol.2019;104(12):1471-1486. doi:10.1037/apl0000417Spurk D, Kauffeld S, Barthauer L, Heinemann NSR.Fostering networking behavior, career planning and optimism, and subjective career success: An intervention study.J Voc Behav. 2015;87:134-144. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2014.12.007Diener E, Pressman SD, Hunter J, Delgadillo-Chase D.If, Why, and When Subjective Well‐Being Influences Health, and Future Needed Research.Appl Psychol Health Well Being.2017;9(2):133-167. doi:10.1111/aphw.12090Friedman EM, Ruini C, Foy R, Jaros L, Sampson H, Ryff CD.Lighten UP! A community-based group intervention to promote psychological well-being in older adults.Aging Ment Health. 2017;21(2):199-205. doi:10.1080/13607863.2015.1093605Seligman MEP, Nolen-Hoeksema S, Thornton N, Thornton KM.Explanatory Style as a Mechanism of Disappointing Athletic Performance.Psychol Sci. 1990;1(2). doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.1990.tb00084.xBerengui R, Garces de los Fayos Ruiz EJ, Ortin Montero FJ, de la Vega Marcos R, Lopez Gullon JM.Optimism and Burnout in Competitive Sport.Psychology. 2013;4(9A):13-18. doi:10.4236/psych.2013.49A2003

Kim ES, Hagan KA, Grodstein F, Demeo DL, De Vivo I, Kubzansky LD.Optimism and Cause-Specific Mortality: A Prospective Cohort Study.Am J Epidemiol.2017;185(1):21-29. doi:10.1093/aje/kww182

Lee LO, James P, Zevon ES, et al.Optimism is associated with exceptional longevity in 2 epidemiologic cohorts of men and women.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA.2019;116(37):18357-18362. doi:10.1073/pnas.1900712116

Srivastava S, McGonigal KM, Richards JM, Butler EA, Gross JJ.Optimism in close relationships: How seeing things in a positive light makes them so.J Pers Soc Psychol.2006;91(1):143-153. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.91.1.143

Murray SL, Griffin DW, Derrick JL, Harris B, Aloni M, Leder S.Tempting Fate or Inviting Happiness?: Unrealistic Idealization Prevents the Decline of Marital Satisfaction.Psychol Sci. 2011;22(5):619-626. doi:10.1177/0956797611403155

Assad KK, Donnellan MB, Conger RD.Optimism: An enduring resource for romantic relationships.J Pers Soc Psychol. 2007;93(2):285-297. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.93.2.285

Li WD, Li S, Fay D, Frese M.Reciprocal relationships between dispositional optimism and work experiences: A five-wave longitudinal investigation.J Appl Psychol.2019;104(12):1471-1486. doi:10.1037/apl0000417

Spurk D, Kauffeld S, Barthauer L, Heinemann NSR.Fostering networking behavior, career planning and optimism, and subjective career success: An intervention study.J Voc Behav. 2015;87:134-144. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2014.12.007

Diener E, Pressman SD, Hunter J, Delgadillo-Chase D.If, Why, and When Subjective Well‐Being Influences Health, and Future Needed Research.Appl Psychol Health Well Being.2017;9(2):133-167. doi:10.1111/aphw.12090

Friedman EM, Ruini C, Foy R, Jaros L, Sampson H, Ryff CD.Lighten UP! A community-based group intervention to promote psychological well-being in older adults.Aging Ment Health. 2017;21(2):199-205. doi:10.1080/13607863.2015.1093605

Seligman MEP, Nolen-Hoeksema S, Thornton N, Thornton KM.Explanatory Style as a Mechanism of Disappointing Athletic Performance.Psychol Sci. 1990;1(2). doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.1990.tb00084.x

Berengui R, Garces de los Fayos Ruiz EJ, Ortin Montero FJ, de la Vega Marcos R, Lopez Gullon JM.Optimism and Burnout in Competitive Sport.Psychology. 2013;4(9A):13-18. doi:10.4236/psych.2013.49A2003

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