Optimistic People Live Longer : I See the Glass As Half Full

My co-workers often comment on how cheerful I am in the office. I've learned to tone down my enthusiasm around some of them that arrive at 8:30 a.m., but wheels don't turn until about noon. I attribute my cheerfulness to my rah-rah years of being a cheerleader at Boulder High School, which has resulted in me having a permanent smile on my face. This is not to be confused with Batman's Joker's smile, because that's a bit scary. I tend to always see the glass as half full, and truly believe my positive outlook on life keeps me motivated on a daily basis. I recently read an article that said that optimistic people live longer and have healthier lives. I would have to agree.

I was flattered when recently, a young professional came up to me at a conference and said, "I really admire you, because you seem to have it all together. How do you do it?" I laughed and replied, "It's all a facade." Her mouth hung open and she caught a couple of fly's. I grinned and said, "I was only kidding and that I try to stay positive and optimistic when handling my work/life balance."

Life in general has its curve balls, but if you take each day one at a time and try to see the good in every situation, then you'll be on your way to living a healthier and happier life. I think sometimes people take themselves and situations too seriously. Uptight people need to relax and pessimists should take up yoga and just breath.

Published in Elephant Journal