Look on the Bright Side

Comments from Assistant Professor of Psychology and Counseling Robert Alexander, Ph.D., are featured in a Good Housekeeping article about how to build optimism in life. Research shows that frequently looking at the bright side of a situation is linked to living longer, better cardiovascular health, lower stress levels, decreased pain, and better sleep, among other benefits. For those looking to find ways to brighten their day, Alexander suggests envisioning what you want in life—within reason.

“Write about the best future you can reasonably imagine. Not a fantasy in which everything magically works out, but something possible,” he says. “Picture a future that could result from steady effort, good decisions, and support from other people. Studies of this ‘best possible self’ exercise have found small but meaningful increased in optimism.”