Optimists do better in life – live longer, healthier, more successful lives – for the simple reason that they don’t ignore problems or give up easily.
Psychologists distinguish between two kinds of optimists. Explainers accept that bad news is neither personal, permanent (things can improve) nor universal (good news is happening somewhere else).
Expectant optimists, by contrast, see problems but anticipate improvement; they have a fighting spirit. Both kinds of optimism alert individuals to fresh opportunities and to the resources needed to pursue goals.
Where pessimists may avoid problems, optimists cope and solve. They are specially productive because optimists are more likely to reach out for help, to collaborate and trust others. That gives them more capacity and resilience than they could ever possess alone.
From the book, Uncharted: How to Map the FutureMargaret Heffernan