Life. It’s such a fragile thing.
Now throughout most of your life, you have probably heard the same advice. If you do not want to die young, there are certain things you have to do on a daily basis. So to live a long healthy life, you have to eat salads, exercise, drink plenty of water and get a good night’s sleep. Is that it? Well, not exactly. There’s more. If you want to live even longer, there is something else you should do and it’s not as easy as eating a piece of broccoli. Look at the bright side. No seriously, you have to look at the “bright’ side of things. You have to be an optimist! For some of us, being happy go lucky comes easy. But it is actually quite hard for others. Some people actually possess a gene that makes it easier to be positive and happy. For others, it takes a lot more effort. So if you are a “the world is dark and empty” type of person, this could be more challenging than running a marathon.
According to new data from two different long term studies, people who see the cup as half-full live 15 percent longer than those who see the world through dark-colored glasses. In fact, an optimistic person is one and half times more likely to reach the age of 85. Researchers believe it because more happy people are more likely to promote healthy behaviors. Positive people usually the individuals who go running in the park and eat fresh vegetables. Optimists can handle stress better and are less likely to resort to alcohol and smoking. The happy person will usually focus on the long-term goal instead of instant gratifications. These traits all contribute to a long life. In a situation that could be considered challenging and intense, the negative person will opt for the immediate reward and not look at the big picture. So in a horror movie, the negative person is the one who is easily fooled and dies off before the title shot.
Now if you are thinking that you doomed to die young because how can you change the way your brain sees the world. (And, if you are a true pessimist, you already knew that you are doomed. Because good things don’t happen to you, right?) NO, wrong. There is hope! Scientists have also discovered that it is possible for a negative Nancy to change their behavior and outlook. It takes time but it is possible. Of course, other research suggests that a negative person will need help to change their attitude. It could be difficult.
