•  
A+ A A-

How a Positive Attitude Boosts Longevity

How a Positive Attitude Boosts Longevity

Can a positive attitude help us live longer?

It seems it can—according to a growing body of research into how our mindset impacts health and wellbeing.

Let’s start with a fascinating (if slightly gross) study. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University gave 193 healthy volunteers nasal drops containing cold or flu viruses. Beforehand, each person’s emotional style was assessed—essentially, whether they had a more positive or negative outlook on life.

People with a positive emotional style tend to meet life’s stresses more calmly. Those with a negative style are more likely to feel frustration, anxiety, or stress in response to the same events.

After taking the drops, everyone was quarantined for the duration of the study. Each day, researchers collected and weighed participants’ used tissues—yes, really! By subtracting the tissue’s dry weight from the total, they could calculate how much mucus each person produced. (Not the dream job, I imagine, but a surprisingly effective way to measure symptom severity.)

And the results? Eye-opening.

Participants with the most positive emotional style produced far less mucus and had fewer symptoms overall. While not everyone became ill, those with a negative emotional style were much more likely to catch the virus than those with a positive one.

The takeaway? Our emotional style plays a much bigger role in health than we might realize. A positive outlook can be protective.

And this link between attitude and health goes far beyond the common cold.

Attitude and Longevity

At the Mayo Clinic, a 30-year study of 447 people found that optimists had around a 50% lower risk of early death compared to pessimists. The researchers concluded, bluntly:  

Mind and body are linked, and attitude has an impact on the final outcome—death.”

Another long-term study at Yale followed 660 people over the age of 50. It looked at how our attitudes toward ageing affect our health and even our lifespan. Participants were asked whether they agreed with statements like, “Things keep getting worse as I get older,” or, “As you get older, you are less useful.”

Those who disagreed with the negative statements—who saw ageing more positively—lived an average of 7.5 years longer than those with the most negative perceptions of ageing.

Similarly, a Dutch study of 999 people over the age of 65 found a strong protective relationship between optimism and longevity. Not only did optimistic people live longer—they also had a 77% lower risk of heart disease.

What’s Going On Here? The Science Behind It

So why do these effects exist?

One big factor is stress. A positive mindset often means that we respond to the same challenges with less stress.

Imagine two people stuck in traffic on their way to an important event. The one with a negative mindset might feel angry, anxious, and complain repeatedly, mentally spinning around what a disaster this is. Their stress response kicks in heart rate increases, blood pressure rises, the mind clouds. This reaction, while useful in danger, becomes harmful if it’s the go-to pattern.

Now consider the person with a more positive mindset. They might feel briefly annoyed, but they accept the situation. They stay calm enough to think clearly—perhaps even spot an alternative route. Their body stays more relaxed, and their mind sharper.

When this more adaptive response becomes the norm, it protects the body from the long-term damage that comes with chronic stress: increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and more.

In short, positivity doesn’t just feel better. It is better—for your brain, body, and even your lifespan.

Want to Be More Positive? Here Are 3 Suggestions:

  1. Practice Kindness

Kindness is a powerful antidote to stress. While stress activates the fight-or-flight system, kindness activates its opposite: the calming, connecting side of our nervous system. 

Feeling tense or overwhelmed? Try doing something kind. Check in on someone, offer encouragement, send a thoughtful message, or help a neighbor. 

And if people are your stressors, play around with the idea that you never know what people are dealing with behind closed doors. Maybe you can relate to that yourself.

Either way, even small gestures can shift our emotional landscape—and reframe how we view life’s stressors.

  1. Count Your Blessings

Gratitude can rewire the brain over time. Our mindset is, in many ways, a habit. A negative mindset is simply a habit of scanning for problems or expecting the worst. But habits can be changed.

Writing down 5–10 things you’re grateful for each day helps train your brain to notice what’s going well. With practice, we begin to lean more toward the light than the shade.

  1. Say “I’ll Handle It”

In Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway, Susan Jeffers encourages us to say these three words whenever we’re faced with something difficult: I’ll handle it.

It’s a simple phrase, but powerful. It reminds us of our capacity to cope. And the more we practice it, the more we start to remember just how often we have handled things in the past—which builds confidence for the future.

Final Thoughts

Positivity, it seems, really does rock. Not in a fluffy “just think happy thoughts” kind of way—but in a grounded, scientific, life-enhancing way.

Of course, no one is positive all the time. Sometimes, a little moan is therapeutic. And many people use a bit of negativity as a kind of emotional armor—to prepare for setbacks or soften disappointment. There’s value in that too.

But overall, the research is clear: over time, a positive mindset tends to be less stressful, more adaptive, and better for our health.

And it might just give us a few extra healthy years on this planet.

Credit - David R. Hamilton PhD

David R. Hamilton PhD
After completing his PhD, David worked for 4 years in the pharmaceutical industry developing drugs for cardiovascular disease and cancer. During this time he also served as an athletics coach and manager of one of the UK’s largest athletics clubs, leading them to three successive UK finals. Upon leaving the pharmaceutical industry, David co-founded the international relief charity Spirit Aid Foundation and served as a director for 2 years.

Source Here

© 2025 CrystalWind.ca & Author | All Rights Reserved | No reproduction without permission | Awakening Souls Since 2008.
#CrystalWind #SpiritualJourney


Pin It

Liked this article? Dive deeper into personal growth and wellness! Check out CrystalWind.ca for spiritual wisdom or explore AromaWorx.ca for natural well-being tips. Spread the positivity—share this with friends on their happiness journey!

Let’s Chat! Drop Your Thoughts Below! Scroll down to comment

Keep CrystalWind.ca free—your gift matters now!
Help us spread light today. Thank you, supporters!

Follow this blog

Featured Writers

Thank You for Visiting CrystalWind!

We’re honored to be part of your journey.

Share your thoughts at .

Let’s grow together!

The Crystal Wind Oracle App
Shatter Illusions – Gain Clarity Now!
Instant Access On:
Apple | Android | Amazon
New! 53-Card Deck for Deeper Wisdom

Imagine a world of inspiration and healing, free for all—made possible by YOU!
Donate Now—Ignite the Magic at CrystalWind.ca!

Support CrystalWind.ca Today!

Unlock Your Light: Join Lightworkers Worldwide on CrystalWind.ca!

Call For Writers

Call For Writers!

Follow Us!

Featured This Month

Page:

Cornplanting Moon

Cornplanting Moon

Deer – Moss Agate – Yarrow – Green and White Read more

Yarrow

Yarrow

Helps you create the future of your dreams Read more

Citrine

Citrine

The Clearing Stone Citrine’s wide range of colours enables it to help balan... Read more

Deer Medicine

Deer Medicine

The Deer holds a revered place in Native American traditions, embodying a powe... Read more

Litha - The Midsummer Solstice

Litha - The Midsummer Solstice

The Litha festival is one of the lesser Sabbats of the Witches annual calend... Read more

Gemini

Gemini

GEMINI May 21 - June 20 Read more

Crystal Gem: Grids and Gridding

Crystal Gem: Grids and Gridding

What are Crystal Gem Grids? They are tools for empowerment, for blessings, ... Read more

A Simple Summer Solstice Ritual with Crystal…

A Simple Summer Solstice Ritual with Crystals

June 20, 2016 is this year’s summer solstice, marking&n... Read more

Litha Sabbat - The Summer Solstice

Litha Sabbat - The Summer Solstice

Gardens are blooming, and summer is in full swing. Fire up the barbeque, turn ... Read more

Sun in Gemini

Sun in Gemini

Sun in Gemini May 21 through June 20 An Overview of Sun Sign Characteristic... Read more

Birth Totem - Deer

Birth Totem - Deer

Birth dates: May 21 - June 20 Birth Totem is: Deer Read more

Gemini Mythology

Gemini Mythology

The Legend Behind the Gemini Zodiac Sign The roots of constellation stories... Read more

The Hawthorn Tree - May 13 - June 9

The Hawthorn Tree - May 13 - June 9

The Hawthorn Tree – May 13 to June 9 In Celtic tree astrology, the Hawthorn ... Read more

Celestite

Celestite

The Divine Listener Stone Celestite has remarkable relaxing and uplifting a... Read more

Rutilated Quartz

Rutilated Quartz

The Energy Buster Stone Rutilated Quartz is an illuminator for the soul, pr... Read more

X

Right Click

No right click