How optimism can backfire
Scientific litsketch on boosting mental health
Only good things will happen to us. Think positively. There are so many books and videos that simply tell us to think positively and expect only good things await us in the future. But research shows that this strong tendency to think positively or to fantasise about our future that only positive things will happen to us can actually make us less happy (Oettingen et al., 2016).
In a study, people were given a number of scenarios and asked what their fantasies were about their outcomes. For example, one scenario was about asking for a deadline extension from a client for a work project and waiting to hear whether or not the client will grant you the extension. People had to write down what would happen and then rate how positive and negative those expectations were.
The results showed that those who fantasised more positively on given scenarios reported having more depressive symptoms after four weeks than those who had less positive fantasies. Blindly hoping that only the positive events will occur in the future can make you feel more disappointed when negative events occur, and also reduce your effort because you think that positive events will occur no matter how much effort you put in.
We can hurt ourselves when we create an unrealistically positive ideal future. We need to see our future as it is, that both positive and negative events can and will occur. There will be suffering, pain, tears, evil but also joy, strength, happiness and love. Expecting that some things can go wrong can better prepare us and strengthen us mentally.
Oettingen, G., Mayer, D., & Portnow, S. (2016). Pleasure now, pain later: Positive fantasies about the future predict symptoms of depression. Psychological Science, 27(3), 345-353.