Merriam Webster defines optimism as "an inclination to put the most favorable construction upon actions and events or to anticipate the best possible outcome." Many associate this mindset with being unrealistic or seeing the world through rose-colored glasses. I've been accused of this - of living in a world that doesn't actually exist. I'm told that optimism is just a positive spin on less than perfect circumstances, but it turns out that optimism may actually be good for you heart!
New research has indicated a link between optimism and a lower risk of events that harm the heart. People with optimistic mindsets tend to experience less heart attacks or other issues that interrupt blood flow. Optimism is also associated with better problem-solving, decision-making, and coping skills.
This is great news, because it gives us power. We can change our mindset, and as a result, positively influence our health and wellness. I'm not being unrealistic. I know that it is easy to be optimistic when things are going well, but what about when they aren't? Do we just ignore challenges or pretend there are no difficulties? Not at all! Being optimistic could be choosing to see the lesson or value in difficult experiences.
Last week, I battled rush hour traffic and rain to see one of my favorite comedians (Ali Siddiq) at the DC Improv. Now, I do not like being late to comedy shows - sometimes late arrivals become the butt of jokes. In my anxiousness, I arrived 10 minutes late to the 7:30pm show and parked in a garage that closed at 8pm. When I left the show, my car was locked in the garage! There was a sign that read "vehicles in the garage after close will be locked in until 6am the next day." I panicked and started to spiral down into the slums of Murphy's Law. My heart was racing and I started to feel hot. It felt like everything that could go wrong, did go wrong that night.
I was freaking out claiming I would never go to D.C. again. But, I decided to take a few deep breaths and choose to see that I could still get a favorable outcome. I called the number on the door and calmly explained my dilemma - that I lived in Baltimore and could not afford to stay overnight. The company said they would try to get someone to meet me there. While waiting for a return call, I met a nice man who also got his car locked in the garage. We had a pleasant conversation while we waited for help. The company never called back, but we were able to get in the garage when another patron was leaving. I got home safely an hour later.
When I chose to shift from the pessimistic view of Murphy's Law to the optimistic view that things would work out, I felt it in my heart. My heart rate slowed, my brow unfurrowed, and I was able to smile. It takes intentional effort to choose optimism, but science says it will be good for your heart!
What are your thoughts? Have you ever chose optimism and felt physical results? Tell me about it in the comments!
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