Fill Your Heart with Optimism

Is your glass half empty or half full? How you answer that can impact your heart health, according to new research on optimism.

The journal Health Behavior and Policy Review recently published results of a study with more than 5,000 participants. Researchers found that the most optimistic study participants had cardiovascular health that was intermediate to ideal. Cardiovascular health was measured by body mass index, blood sugar level, blood cholesterol levels, diet, physical activity, and smoking after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and behavioral health.

This new research adds to the medical literature that connects optimism to heart health and associates it with better recovery and fewer hospitalizations after coronary bypass surgery; plus lower cardiovascular mortality.

More broadly, optimists have also been shown to get sick less often and can even slow the progression of illness and help recovery, such as with HIV. It is also associated with less distress in cancer patients.

5 Ways to Boost Optimism

The next time you are in a rut, try these techniques to increase your optimism:

1. Change your self-talk. Change the way you explain events and engage in positive self-talk. Counteract negative thoughts by concentrating on factual alternative explanations.
2. Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness involves developing a great awareness of the present moment, without dwelling on the past and looking into the future. It helps promote optimism by preventing us from looking into the future and being open and attentive to options and possibilities in the present moment. Practice it by taking a few minutes to simply notice your breathing or by focusing on all your senses the next time you take a walk, take a shower or eat.
3. Connect with others. Personal connections help us feel supported and therefore more in control and less helpless. Surround yourself with positive people who can encourage and reinforce your optimism.
4. Try an app. There are many mobile apps that support optimistic thinking and mindfulness. Happify provides daily upbeat tips and activities. Gratitude Journal prompts you to think about things that you are thankful for each day. Headspace, the Mindfulness App and Mindfulness Meditation provide daily meditation activities.
5. Curl up with a helpful book. Try Learned Optimism by Martin Seligman, PhD, Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain and Illness or Mindfulness Meditation for Everyday Life by Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD.

This post was written by Bella Grossman, PhD, psychologist for the North Shore-LIJ Health System.

For more North Shore-LIJ Health Blog posts, go to http://blog.northshorelij.com/

Contents of the health blog are the property of North Shore-LIJ Health System and are provided as a health resource for consumers, health care professionals and members of the media. The medical content on the North Shore-LIJ Health Blog is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for consultation with your physician regarding diagnosis, treatment or any other form of specific medical advice. These materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. “North Shore-LIJ Health System,” “North Shore-LIJ,” “northshorelij.com,” “VivoHealth,” their related entities and logos are trademarks of the North Shore-LIJ Health System. Copyright © 2011 North Shore-LIJ Health System. All rights reserved.