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LOS ANGELES, CA - Optimists, turns out you were right all along. Science is here to show us the benefits of looking on the bright side. And ever the optimists, we believe even pessimists can learn a thing or two.
Optimists aren't just happier -- they're also healthier. According to a Harvard Medical School report, optimists live an average of 8 to 10 years longer - and generally it's an extra decade of good health. The experts say it has less to do with "hoping" and more with action - optimists think it's worth the effort to take care of themselves, and take the necessary steps to get better if they are diagnosed with an ailment.
It isn't that optimists never get sick, but they are better at bouncing back. It's the same with setbacks. Everyone suffers from failures, but studies show that instead of being discouraged, optimistic thinkers use them as fuel to do better next time.
Maybe that's why optimists are also successful in their careers. One report shows that optimists get better results in sales. Not because their products are better - but because they're more persistent and don't let one "no" carry over to their pitch with the next customer.
Yes, optimists - and pessimists, too - things really are looking up.