According to most major studies, optimists live longer. However, the devil is in the details: the key role is played not so much by the presence of positive expectations as by the absence of pessimism.

What the numbers say

Data from long-term observations are quite consistent.

Life expectancy difference: the most famous study showed that the most optimistic women live on average fourteen whole nine-tenths percent longer than their pessimistic peers, and men by ten whole nine-tenths percent longer. The chances of living to eighty-five are one and a half to seven tenths times higher for optimists.

Mortality: a meta-analysis of fifteen studies involving more than two hundred thousand people confirmed that optimism is associated with a lower risk of premature death. Other data show that each ten points towards pessimism increases the risk of mortality by nineteen percent.

An important nuance: some scientists believe that optimism and pessimism are not two sides of the same scale. Analysis has shown that it is high pessimism that predicts increased mortality, while optimism alone may not provide additional protection.

Why it happens this way

Optimists are more likely to lead a healthy lifestyle: they move more, eat better, smoke and drink less. Moreover, they cope with stress more effectively, which has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system.

Cultural context

Interestingly, not all studies confirm this connection. For example, among elderly Japanese, optimism was not associated with life expectancy. Scientists suggest that in cultures with a different attitude towards positive thinking, this connection may not work.

Long-lived optimists: real examples

History knows many people whose positive attitude and activity helped them live a long and fulfilling life.

• Dick Van Dyke (100 years old). The legendary actor, known for his role as Bert in \"Mary Poppins,\" lived to be one hundred. He attributed the secret of longevity to the absence of anger and a calm attitude towards life. He even wrote a book titled \"100 Rules for Life Until 100: A Guide for Optimists for a Happy Life.\"
• Jane Goodall (91 years old). The world-renowned primatologist and conservationist continued to work and travel actively until the very end. In her book \"The Book of Hope,\" she shared reasons for optimism even in the face of global problems. She lived to be ninety-one, maintaining clarity of mind and vitality.
• Hedda Bolgar (103 years old). The oldest practicing psychotherapist in history. She worked almost until the end and claimed that the happiest years of her life were after the age of sixty-five. She \"sold old age\" to her patients, convincing them that this was a time of freedom and experience.
• Lev Lebedev (83 years old). A folk artist of Russia remains active and cheerful at the age of eighty-three. When asked about the recipe for optimism, he answers: live with good, there is no other. Be grateful to fate, people, family.
• Alexander Soloducha. A distinguished artist of Belarus acknowledges that he follows the motto \"Forward and Up\" and smiles since the moment he wakes up. A smiling person attracts, while a sad one repels, he says.

Pessimists: philosophy against life

Among the well-known pessimists, there are also striking figures, but their fates often unfolded tragically.

• Arthur Schopenhauer (73 years old). The most famous pessimistic philosopher, calling the existing world the worst of all possible. Despite his philosophy, he lived to be seventy-three — by the standards of the nineteenth century, this was a very respectful age. The irony is that when an epidemic of cholera broke out in his city, the great pessimist hurried to leave the dangerous place, choosing life.
• Philipp Mainlander (34 years old). A German philosopher who was more of a follower of Schopenhauer. True to his theory that life is suffering, he took his own life at the age of thirty-four. Researchers note that his example is a tragic exception, but it shows where radical pessimism can lead.
• Mikhail Zoshchenko (62 years old). A brilliant Soviet satirist, the author of humorous stories. However, he himself suffered from deep depression. There is a well-known anecdote: Zoshchenko came to a doctor with a complaint of melancholy, and the doctor advised him to read the stories of Zoshchenko, which would make any pessimist laugh. To which the writer replied gloomily: I am Zoshchenko.

Conclusion

Scientific data and human destinies converge on one point: optimism is not just a pleasant addition to life but a factor that can prolong it. Optimists are more likely to choose useful habits, better cope with stress, and maintain interest in life longer. Pessimism, especially radical, often leads to self-destruction.

Of course, being an optimist does not mean ignoring problems. It is rather the ability to see them but not let them control one's life.

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