The Research Is In, Optimism Works

In a world that often feels like a rollercoaster of challenges and uncertainties, the quest for a positive mindset has turned into more than just a pop health trend; it's a necessity for mental resilience and well-being. Enter Learned Optimism, a groundbreaking psychology framework pioneered by Dr.Martin Seligman, a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and Director of the Positive Psychology Center.

Tailored for the millennial generation, who frequently grapple with imposter syndrome and self-criticism, this approach offers a roadmap to rewire your negative thought patterns and cultivate a more optimistic outlook on life.

What is Learned Optimism?

Unlike traditional optimism, which often implies a passive hope for the best, learned optimism is a proactive approach that involves training your mind to view setbacks and challenges in a more positive light. Seligman's research suggests that you can learn to be optimistic by changing your explanatory style, which encompasses how you explain the causes, consequences, and implications of events in your life.

How we talk to ourselves determines how we feel about what is happening around us.  The voice inside our heads spend most of the day critiquing us or judging others - and we assume that is just part of our inner ego.  But it isn’t.  

The Impact of Optimism

Before we break down how optimism actually works - and how you can make it work for you - it's important to point out how impactful it truly is. Optimism is no longer a hokey, fluffy concept reserved for people you deem oblivious or privileged or naive. The research is clear, optimism has a profound impact on how our lives unfold. (If you don't want to dive into the book, then this article provides a nice summary)

Optimism leads to better health outcomes. Optimists are more aware of their health, less likely to develop things like heart disease, and generally experience less stress.

Optimists also perform better. Optimists have higher GPAs, are better employees to work with, and show higher motivation and resiliency than their peers. And if you are in sales, optimism should become your best friend. In a massive study with MetLife, optimistic salespeople outperformed their peers by a massive amount - even if they were less skilled from an aptitude perspective.

The best part - optimism can be taught.

Explanatory Style: The Building Block of Learned Optimism

At the core of learned optimism lies the concept of explanatory style – the way we interpret and explain the events that unfold in our lives. Seligman identifies three crucial dimensions of explanatory style that significantly influence your overall mindset: permanence, pervasiveness, and personalization.

Permanence:

• Defined: Permanence refers to the temporal aspect of our explanations. Optimistic individuals tend to see negative events as temporary and believe that things can change for the better, while pessimists tell themselves that negative things will last forever (e.g. permanently).
• Example (Optimist): Faced with a rejection from a job application, an optimist might think, "This is just a temporary setback. There are always more opportunities out there and I can improve on my skills in the meantime."
• Example (Pessimist): A pessimist, on the other hand, might think, "I'll never get a job. Unless I get someone to do me a favor, I'll always get rejected."

Pervasiveness:

• Defined: Pervasiveness relates to the scope or extent of the impact we attribute to an event. Optimists see setbacks as specific to a particular situation rather than all-encompassing.
• Example (Optimist): After receiving constructive criticism at work, an optimist might say, "I made a mistake on this project, but that's bound to happen. I'm learning and will do better next time."
• Example (Pessimist): A pessimist might generalize the criticism, thinking, "I'm terrible at my job. I can't get anything right and they are going to fire me eventually."

Personalization:

• Defined: Personalization involves attributing the cause of events to internal or external factors. Optimists externalize negative events, recognizing external factors as contributors, rather than blaming themselves.
• Example (Optimist): If a social event doesn't go as planned, an optimist might think, "People have a lot going on and the weather was terrible - folks will enjoy the next one a bit more."
• Example (Pessimist): A pessimist may internalize the blame, saying, "People must not really like me if they can’t show up to something they RSVP’d to."

Take Control of Your Inner Voice

Learned optimism is not about denying the existence of challenges or difficulties in life. Instead, it's a powerful tool that empowers us to navigate the complexities of the modern world with a positive and resilient mindset. By understanding and applying the principles of explanatory style – permanence, pervasiveness, and personalization – you can reshape your thought patterns and build a foundation for lasting optimism. It starts with cultivating awareness of how you are talking to yourself - so you are well on your way!

Changing your mindset is not easy - but training yourself to be optimism can unlock your purpose and zest for life - learn more about how we help individuals realize their potential here.