Everything is going to be OK. Or maybe not. But it might be safest to think so. According to an article in the Washington Post last week, there’s a growing body of research indicating that people with an optimistic view of life have a lower incidence of heart disease. There are the usual caveats for research of this kind, of course. It’s possible that Sunny Sammy is more likely to exercise and eat well, while Gloomy Gus doesn’t think it’s worth the trouble.

But what really interested me about the article was not the research, which is pretty much what you’d expect, but the tips for developing optimism if it doesn’t come naturally to you. Again, pretty much what you’d expect — stop and smell the roses, keep a gratitude journal, and that now-ubiquitous advice: practice mindfulness meditation.

Isn’t that kind of getting things backward? If you’re pausing to notice the nice things around you or stopping to jot down things you’re grateful for, aren’t you already the kind of person who is, at least more or less, optimistic? Maybe it’s the “fake it ’til you make it” idea. If you’re not grateful for that lovely sunset, just force yourself to stand there and look at it until the feeling sinks in.

Maybe that would work, but I’m thinking the world needs a few pessimists. I’ve always been an optimistic person — almost dangerously optimistic. I tend to think that everything is going to be fine until the water begins to lap up over the gunnels. Pessimists start bailing early. At least they would if optimists would stop interrupting them to point out the lovely waves splashing against the side of the boat.

Perhaps a slightly higher risk of heart disease is the price pessimists pay for keeping the rest of us alive.

’til next time, try to look on the bright side of life . . . or not.

Avery

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Image courtesy Stefano Ferrario, via Pixabay