Will Being Optimistic Change Our Brains?

Despite the modern technology and massive breakthroughs in scientific research, our brain remains a secretive area of study.

For decades, we have been fascinated by this unsolved mystery and we are again and again blown away by the powers of our minds.

From positive psychology to medical surgery, from secondary school biology lessons to university neuroscience lectures, we have all wanted to figure out how our brains miraculously work.

Yes, we've gained so much more insights, knowledge and secrets about this little machine. However, such major progress is still a scratch from the surface.

Take "being optimistic" for example.

Some people seem to be naturally more optimistic than others even in the toughest period of times. Does that mean their brains are different from most?

It is like the classic "what came first, the chick or the egg?" question. Does a naturally optimistic outlook on life change our brain, OR is there some magical buttons in our brain that make us more optimistic?

Throughout history, humans have consistently demonstrated the quality of optimism even when facing adversity. (Think of Viktor Frankl, Nelson Mandela, Helen Keller, Mahatma Gandhi, Jesse Owens, Stephen Hawking, Malala Yousafzai etc.)

You will find tens of thousands of examples where people in the worst circumstances can still find something happy about or grateful for.

The question is, how does optimism affect the brain?

Recently new insights from brain imaging have shown how just thinking positively or being optimistic about a situation can affect different areas of the brain.

The images revealed that when participants in the study daydreamed about future positive events, there were two areas of the brain that were more strongly activated than when they were thinking about negative ones.

The areas of the brain that were more strongly activated were the right amygdala and the RACC (rostral anterior cingulated cortex). People who had a more strongly activated RACC also scored higher on an optimism questionnaire.

Now the question becomes, Is Optimism Truly Beneficial?

Studies have shown that the RACC actually may help us imagine events that may occur in the future by using the reactions we had in past events. This can help us make better decisions by not repeating some of the mistakes we may have made in the past.

In addition, the RACC may work with the emotional center of the brain, the amygdala, to help downplay negative emotions.

This could mean that optimism may not just make us happier in both the long and short-term, but it may also help us to achieve the goals we set for ourselves. While there could be some risks with being overly optimistic, accepting negative predictions can impair your life.

So what's the short conclusion we can draw? A healthy dose of optimism daily will make you go further.

The next time you are thinking about something, try to see it in a positive light, reframe the situation in a more empowering way, and things may as well become better in reality.

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