Positive Psychology: Optimism is less stressful than a pessimism and it guards against depression.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Optimism is less stressful than a pessimism and it guards against depression.

Become an optimist because among other things, optimists tend to get more of what they want and less of what they don't, and they let setbacks roll off their backs.

Clarify your goals and work harder to achieve them, as an effective tool for going after your dreams.

Focus on maintaining an attitude of gratitude for what you already have. You may find that you feel quite rich and blessed already, in ways you didn't realize before.

These methods can help with stress management, and all are simple, effective ways to feel lucky in your life. And they offer better odds all than the magical thinking of hoping for a winning Lotto Ticket.

Lotteries are a tax on morons.

Depression is a major disease affecting millions of people and Optimism is one of the best anecdotes against it.

Positive Psychology given credence by Academia:

Positive psychology is the scientific study of the strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive.

Commentators on the subject Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, note that:

"The field of positive psychology at the subjective level is about valued subjective experiences: well-being, contentment, and satisfaction (in the past); hope and optimism (for the future); and flow and happiness (in the present).

At the individual level, it is about positive individual traits: the capacity for love and vocation, courage, interpersonal skill, aesthetic sensibility, perseverance, forgiveness, originality, future mindedness, spirituality, high talent, and wisdom.

At the group level, it is about the civic virtues and the institutions that move individuals toward better citizenship: responsibility, nurturance, altruism, civility, moderation,tolerance, and work ethic."