I’m prone to finding the good in most situations, which drives some of my friends and family members crazy. You could call me a Pollyanna who wants to believe everything happens for a person’s highest good. But why not find the good rather than the bad? After all, doing so positively impacts you and your life.
It’s easy to find the “bad.” Just turn on the news, and you’ll get reports about war, natural disasters, political unrest, shootings, financial and economic upheaval, and inequality. I love how, once per week (sometimes more often), the news station I watch offers “good news” stories. These can’t quite balance out all the bad news, but it’s a nice gesture—and an attempt to find the good rather than only the bad.
You might think being a Pollyanna is a way to ignore the bad. It is a choice to focus on the good rather than the bad. And I want to make that choice for a variety of reasons.
The Benefits of Being a Pollyanna
Named after the titular character of Eleanor H. Porter’s 1913 novel, the notion of being a Pollyanna symbolizes an unwavering belief in the goodness of people and the bright side of life. Some may dismiss such an outlook as naiveté or some woo-woo focus on creating good even out of difficult circumstances. However, numerous studies demonstrate the myriad benefits of adopting a Pollyanna-esque mentality, especially in today’s world.
The benefits of optimism include:
1. Enhanced Mental Health
An optimistic outlook has a positive impact on mental health. Studies show that optimists experience less depression and anxiety. They also have a problem-solving mindset, which makes them less prone to feeling hopeless and better equipped to handle stress and maintain emotional equilibrium. Optimists are creative and innovative thinkers; thus, they are inclined to explore unique solutions rather than fixate on problems.
2. Heightened Resiliency
An optimistic mindset encourages you to view setbacks as temporary challenges rather than permanent failures. This perspective fosters greater resilience, allowing a Pollyanna to recover more quickly from emotional turmoil and adapt to changing circumstances or adversity.
3. Improved Relationships
Interpersonal relationships thrive on positivity, and Pollyannas uplift those in their social circles. They are positive contagions. Optimism serves as a catalyst for strengthening connections, and people are attracted to someone who exudes positivity. Additionally, a Pollyanna’s optimistic approach can lead to effective conflict resolution and collaboration.
4. Better Physical Health
Optimism also influences physical health. Research indicates that individuals with a positive outlook live longer than those with a more negative mindset, partially because they experience lower stress and anxiety levels and tend to engage in healthy behaviors, like exercising regularly, eating a nutritious diet, and seeking preventative healthcare. Additionally, optimism has been linked to lower rates of cardiovascular disease and improved immune function. A seminal study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that optimists had a significantly lower mortality risk than pessimists. Even when they experience health challenges, their positive mindset can help them heal.
5. Learning and Growth
Pollyannas view failures as valuable learning experiences rather than insurmountable obstacles or statements about their worth, value, or ability. This growth mindset leads to continuous personal and professional growth as well as enhanced skills and abilities in various life arenas.
While blind optimism may not be the ultimate solution to all of life’s challenges, I think you realize by now that looking for the good—not the bad—empowers you to lead a happier and healthier life. However, science also backs up this premise.
The Science Behind Looking for the Good (Rather than the Bad)
The conscious choice to focus on the positive aspects of life can seem counterintuitive. Yet, a growing body of scientific research supports cultivating a more positive outlook and reinforces the abovementioned benefits.
For example, research indicates that focusing on positive stimuli activates the brain’s reward system. When you identify and acknowledge positive experiences, your brain releases neurotransmitters such as dopamine, which are associated with pleasure and reinforcement. This chemical response improves mood and creates a feedback loop that encourages seeking more positive experiences.
Also, studies show that if you dwell on negative experiences, the amygdala, a small almond-shaped structure in the brain, becomes hyperactive. The amygdala plays a crucial role in processing emotions like fear and pleasure; thus, when it becomes overly active, you feel increased anxiety and stress. Conversely, focusing on positive experiences helps you regulate amygdala activity. As you can imagine, this fosters emotional resilience and reduces overall stress levels.
A landmark study by Dr. Robert Emmons revealed that participants who kept a gratitude journal—a record of the good in their lives—reported greater life satisfaction, fewer physical symptoms, and a more positive outlook on life than those who recorded daily hassles—the bad.
You can even find a branch of psychology devoted to optimism. Dr. Martin Seligman founded positive psychology in the late 1990s, and it emphasizes strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive. This branch highlights the study of positive experiences, positive emotions, and positive institutions.
Practical Approaches to Finding the Good
How do you shift your focus to positivity and the good when you are bombarded regularly with negativity or the bad in your life or the world? Here are a few ways.
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- Practice Cognitive Reframing: Human beings have a “negativity bias,” which causes negative events or information to have a greater psychological impact than positive ones. However, cognitive reframing and mindfulness practices can counter this bias. For instance, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques encourage you to challenge negative thoughts and reinforce positive ones, shifting the focus towards the good in your life. You can do this on your own rather than with a therapist.
- Develop a Mindfulness or Meditation Practice: Mindfulness encourages you to be present in the moment, fostering an awareness of positive experiences and thoughts. Regular mindfulness meditation improves emotional regulation, increases feelings of well-being, and reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression. Meditation, in general, can help you feel more positive as well.
- Have an Attitude of Gratitude: Dr. Emmons’ research demonstrates the importance of having an attitude of gratitude. Simple practices like keeping a gratitude journal or regularly expressing gratitude shift focus from negativity to positivity, from bad to good. You can make it a habit to express gratitude for each day before sleep and upon awakening in the morning.
- Use Affirmations: Incorporating positive statements into your daily routines combats negative self-talk and reinforces a positive self-image. Affirmations change your bad thoughts or beliefs into good ones. You reshape your self-perception and outlook on life by consciously affirming your strengths and capabilities. You also create new neural pathways in your brain as you shift your internal conversation and outward focus.
- Spend Time With Positive People: If you want to see the good, don’t hang out with people who only see the bad—and want to point it out. Hang out with people who want to see the good. Positive social interactions significantly impact your ability to focus on the good because your fellow Pollyannas provide emotional support, accountability, and encouragement as you look for the good. (I went so far as to become an ambassador for a company called “Find the Good Brand.”)
Choose to Look for the Good
Choosing to look for the good rather than the bad isn’t merely an optimistic platitude but a scientifically supported practice that can transform your mental, emotional, and physical well-being. In a world where a focus on what’s bad often prevails, seeking the good serves as a powerful antidote and way to enjoy and find meaning in life—no matter what.
The best part is that you can choose to find the good rather than the bad right now. Don’t unconsciously let your human negative bias determine how you see yourself or life. Decide to be a Pollyanna, and adopt a positive outlook.
Do you look for the good or the bad? Tell me in a comment below. And please share this post with someone who might benefit from reading it.
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