Ask an Expert: Benefits of Optimism
By Kurt O'Brien, Director, Organization Development & Training, UW Medicine Health System
Why is it that some of us see the glass as being “half full” while others of us clearly see it as “half empty”? After all, we are looking at the same glass, so how is it possible to draw such different conclusions?
Part of this can be explained by understanding that each of us has our own way of explaining events and situations to ourselves, and this way of explanation (also known as “explanatory style”) sets the stage for whether we see the situation from a more optimistic perspective or a more pessimistic one.
When we see things through the lens of optimism, we believe that good events will be long-lasting and that all aspects of our life will benefit. Negative events, conversely, are viewed as being temporary in nature, that the bad event can be overcome or addressed through perseverance, and that the bad event could have simply been due to bad luck.
When we view events from a pessimistic perspective, this pattern flip-flops. Good events are seen as being temporary, narrow in scope, and largely due to luck (or being in the right place at the right time). Negative events are interpreted as being permanent in nature (the negative effects will be felt for a long time), impacting all aspects of our life negatively, and as being our own fault (“My failure to do or not do something caused this bad event to occur; therefore, I am to blame”).
How do optimism and pessimism affect us? How can an optimistic outlook benefit our lives and our work?
While healthy doses of both optimism and pessimism are necessary to live successful lives (pessimism allows us to see things for what they really are), research over the years has clearly illustrated the benefits of optimism. For example, studies of insurance agents demonstrated that those agents with an optimistic outlook out-sold agents with a pessimistic perspective by a factor of two to one, and pessimistic agents were twice as likely to quit as those with an optimistic style (Learned Optimism, 1992).
Optimism is also strongly linked to emotional intelligence, and is one of the fifteen factors in the Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i), an assessment instrument that measures emotional intelligence. In this context, optimism is the ability to look at the brighter side of life and to maintain a positive attitude, even in the face of adversity, and assumes a measure of hope in one’s approach to life.
How this “glass half full/half empty” phenomenon shows up in the workplace is also worth considering. Research shows that our attitudes and emotions are very contagious and can have a significant impact on others around us. An overly pessimistic perspective can lead to a sense of despair and helplessness (e.g., “We can’t do anything to change this, so we might as well do nothing. It’s all rather hopeless.”).
An optimistic perspective, on the other hand, can lead to increased levels of creativity, hope, and inspiration. Morale and satisfaction increase, and the work environment is experienced as being positive and uplifting.
Optimism is not merely having a “rah-rah” attitude or looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. Martin Seligman, Ph.D., professor at the University of Pennsylvania and author of the books Learned Helplessness and Authentic Happiness, has studied learned helplessness and depression for over thirty years. Seligman, a self-proclaimed “dyed in the wool pessimist” states, “Merely repeating positive statements to yourself does not raise mood or achievement very much, if at all. It is how you cope with negative statements that has an effect. Learned optimism works not through an unjustifiable positivity about things, but through the power of non-negative thinking” (Learned Optimism, 1992).
Indeed, Seligman makes the case that we must become clear about how we explain events to ourselves, and when we slip into making negative interpretations, we have an opportunity to examine these “stories” and interpret the event in a much more positive light.
So what steps can we take to become more aware of our explanatory style and the negative stories we tell ourselves?
First, consider reading Seligman's book, Learned Optimism; it is likely to forever change the way you think about optimism and pessimism. The book also contains an assessment that will help you determine your explanatory style, and offers suggestions for challenging the negative stories we may tell ourselves. Other suggestions include:
- Tell positive stories about the people you work with and the organization.
- Ask others to share their “stories.”
- Question/dispute automatic thoughts.
- Attribute positive intent.
Lastly, consider the words of Viktor Frankl, author of Man's Search for Meaning, where he implores us that our "ultimate freedom" as human beings is the freedom to choose our response to any situation or circumstance. This, it would seem, is our challenge and opportunity.
