– 5 Reasons to Embrace Positive Thinking –

Superheroes in the 1960s weren’t as impressive as they are today. There were no computers, no CGI; Superman couldn’t really fly and Batman was funnier than he was fearsome. Instead, we had heroes with whom we could relate; men of substance stacked just a little bit higher than most. They might be stronger or faster or smarter or a combination of those things, but pretty much normal men that actually chased their dreams… and that’s what we loved about them. Without exception, all of them were positive in thought and action.

I read about heroes when I was a kid; all the normal stuff, a few science fiction books, and every kind of biography. Stories of rich men, athletes, heroes, myths and legends, and the ones that lit me up the most – the adventurers. Woodsmen like Daniel Boone, mountain men like Jim Bridger, and explorers like Lewis & Clark… all of them were optimists. I learned early that a man had to really believe in his quest to achieve it.

The Science Behind Being Optimistic

When I turned the corner into my teens, my father gave me a book titled “Think and Grow Rich”. I was too young to be interested in business or success, but my dad said the author spent a lifetime looking for the secret of achievement. It was more than a business book, he assured; the secret could be used to make any dream come true. Honestly, I was a little disappointed, but my father had gifted me many books and all of them were good. So during that summer vacation, I read the book. In hindsight, it was the greatest gift my father ever gave me.

“What the mind of Man can conceive and believe, it can achieve,” wrote Napoleon Hill. I loved the way the statement rhymed. I took its simple truth to heart and committed it to memory. It summarized the lifelong learnings of Mr. Hill who, after interviewing hundreds of the world’s most successful people, learned that success came to those who believed they could and would succeed. It seemed like magic, but it was science.

His twenty-year study provided credible proof: the things people think about actually happen in their lives. According to the book, if I conceived a project, an adventure, or a lifestyle change that motivated me and if I deeply believed in my plan to achieve it, the universe would conspire with me to make it happen. The greater the obsession, the greater and more certain its manifestation. What the mind of Man can conceive and believe, it can achieve; all my adventures have been built on that truth.

Being Optimistic is Hard Work

Being optimistic does not guarantee that things work out as planned… or even work out at all. I didn’t plan the business or personal disasters that happened in my life. Some were my fault and some just happened, and a few of them happened more than once. In spite of the pain and disillusionment, I never let it tarnish my perspective. Often the fight wasn’t with the circumstances as much as it is with summoning new optimism.

During bad times, I tried to imagine better times. Easier said than done; dark days weigh heavy and sometimes we surrender to the sorrow. Self-pity and pessimism during tough times often stem from our brain’s attempt to process emotional pain and protect us. It’s a natural response to stress or loss, where we temporarily retreat into negative emotions to acknowledge our struggles. It can serve as a mental reset, allowing us to vent frustration, grieve, or make sense of challenges. Psychologically, it’s tied to our need for self-compassion. Acknowledging our pain validates our experience, which can be cathartic.

Being Pessimistic is Easy

Aside from the psychology, the simple truth (and the reason many people adopt a negative perspective) is that it’s easier. Pessimists are right most of the time; they expect bad things to happen and [surprise!] their expectations become self-fulfilling prophecies. They don’t have to grow (because the world will prevent it), they don’t need to try (because dreams don’t come true), and they damn sure don’t see the sense in chasing happiness (because something bad is certain to happen; it always does).

Pessimists can be chronically unhappy people. No great relationships are built with it, no obstacles overcome, no progress made with pessimism. It is the language of despair and the cornerstone of defeat. Pessimism poisons the spirit and repels those in search of happiness. I do what I can to cheer them up but some people just like to be grouchy.

Being Optimistic Feels Good

And that is probably the best part of being optimistic; it feels good. It’s as simple as “seeing the donut, not the hole”. Just thinking about putting a positive spin on a set of circumstances sets a smile on my face. And when it comes to making big plans or organizing big changes in my life, I imagine all the possibilities, anticipate needs and obstacles, adjust the plan accordingly… and being optimistic gives me energy to persist. I get excited planning for success and grow stronger every time I solve a problem. I can be optimistic about improving a situation at home, at work, in any aspect of my life. By definition, being optimistic makes me happy.

Being Optimistic Is Survival

Let’s get something straight: optimism isn’t some soft, squishy emotional preference. It’s a powerful survival skill. And the older I get, the more I believe optimism is practical. Not because everything always works out – it doesn’t – but because starting your day with hope changes how you handle what does show up.

Here are five solid, research-backed reasons I keep choosing the sunny side… even when the trail gets rough:

1. It Keeps Your Brain from Eating Itself

Optimism isn’t just a mood – it’s medicine. It reduces stress, lowers cortisol, and helps keep anxiety and depression in check. (That’s not just Yeti talk… go ask the American Psychological Association.)

Hope rewires your brain to anticipate and identify solutions. And it’s a lot easier to move forward when your brain isn’t melting down.

2. Your Body Likes It, Too

Optimists tend to have healthier hearts, stronger immune systems, and longer lifespans. A 2019 Harvard study even tied optimism to a reduced risk of heart disease. It’s like your body knows when your mind believes life’s still worth living.

3. You Bounce, Not Break

Optimism doesn’t mean pretending life is perfect. It means that when things go sideways – and they will – you focus on what’s next, not what’s lost. That’s called resilience and it turns setbacks into setups. As my buddy Dave Burkhardt might say: “You can learn to be optimistic. Practice seeing the detour, not the ditch.”

4. People Actually Like You More

Optimistic people tend to have stronger relationships, partly because they’re easier to be around. They don’t suck the life out of the room; instead, they lift it. And in a world that already feels too heavy, that matters.

5. It Fuels the Grind

Optimism is grit in disguise. If you believe something good could come of your effort, you’re more likely to try… and keep trying. Pessimism kills dreams before they’re born. Optimism throws on a pack and says, “Let’s see how far this thing goes.”

Being Optimistic Is Best

Optimism isn’t naïve; it’s strategic. It’s not about ignoring the darkness, but about refusing to live in it. So go ahead… choose the sunny side. Not because it’s easier but because it works.

---

---