If you ask 100 people whether their glass is half full or half empty, 99 of them will answer in the affirmative. It's part of our instinct, part of our original programming.
Decades of research have shown that our language, our memory and our thinking are selectively positive.
In written and spoken language, we use three times as many positive, optimistic words as negative, pessimistic ones.


It's in our genes. Healthy people show a positive tendency towards their future. Optimism is vital.

Optimism as a denial of reality

If we look closely at our surroundings, we see the cruel reality. Illness, death and financial disasters surround us and we know that everyone's life is full of misery and misfortune.

If we kept the potential danger in mind every time we crossed a road, we would probably stay in bed and not dare to move. After all, danger is part of life.

Depression

Around 40% of the population suffers from a lack of self-esteem. During a depressive phase, people suffer from a pessimistic view of their life and future and lose hope.

Humans are programmed to resist change, even if it is harmful. Everyone instinctively wants to stay within their mental equilibrium, even if the change brings good.

The question of the meaning of life and life after death is based on optimism and a denial of reality, yet we believe in it because it gives us hope.

The reality

Our perception is seen as mentally normal when we perceive what is really there.

Research shows time and again that everyone sees themselves as above average in some way and others as below average. We are positive and the rest of the world is negative.
We distort reality, especially when it comes to our past. Successes are basically our own doing, while failures are the fault of others.

Illusion

Optimism is a necessary form of illusion in order to maintain civilisation. If we focused on death and misery, we would lose our motivation to improve our lives.
 Optimism and imagination are formed by the limbic system, where all our feelings come from. Feelings create motivation to improve our life circumstances. Only after decisions have been filtered through the limbic system do logic and reason have a veto right.

Load capacity

Optimism is closely linked to perseverance and determination. If we have difficulties at the beginning of a learning process, we keep going anyway. Children fall off their bikes a hundred times and injure themselves, but they keep on learning until they have mastered cycling.

The same applies to anything new. We resist it, especially the older we get. But perseverance and determination and the hope of a positive end result keep us going.

Conclusion

Optimists live longer than pessimists. Optimism and contentment maintain health, while pessimism attacks the body.

What can you do to become more optimistic?

Smile, even if you don't feel like it. Pause for a moment and put on a smile, even if it's fake. Smile with your mouth muscles as well as your eye muscles. Isn't the extension of life reason enough to smile every now and then?