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2 - Optimism Belief in a Brighter Future

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2023

Steven M. Southwick
Affiliation:
Yale University Medical School, Connecticut
Dennis S. Charney
Affiliation:
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York
Jonathan M. DePierro
Affiliation:
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York
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Summary

Optimism is belief in a brighter future. In this chapter you will learn how optimistic people think and what they do. Optimists acknowledge the challenges they face but focus on what they can do to change their situation. You will read of how people we interviewed remained optimistic in very challenging situations. We share four ways to build optimism: shifting your attention to focus on things within your immediate control, savoring positive events, staying active, and challenging negative thoughts that are neither helpful nor realistic.

Type
Chapter
Information
Resilience
The Science of Mastering Life's Greatest Challenges
, pp. 25 - 48
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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