WASHINGTON — Do we really learn from our mistakes? We’ve all heard the comforting refrains about failure: “Fail your way to success!” or “Each failure is a stepping stone!” Inspirational quotes from celebrities and success stories from business gurus reinforce the belief that failing is just a precursor to success. However, recent research published in the…

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Written by Seyram Avle, UMass Amherst, and Jean Hardy, Michigan State University Silicon Valley venture capitalist Marc Andreessen penned a 5,000-word manifesto in 2023 that gave a full-throated call for unrestricted technological progress to boost markets, broaden energy production, improve education, and strengthen liberal democracy. The billionaire, who made his fortune by co-founding Netscape –…

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I consider myself a fairly optimistic individual, but new research is showing me why my rose-tinted glasses can sometimes lead me into trouble. Though not necessarily groundbreaking insight, the study concludes that wishful thinking can lead to poor judgment with potentially dangerous consequences. For the glass-is-half-full folks out there, while I believe we possess a…

The post I’m A Proud Wishful Thinker, But New Research Reminds Me Why Optimism Can Be Dangerous by Steve Fink appeared first on Study Finds.

On April 3, 1968, standing before a crowded church, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. painted his vision for justice. “I’ve seen the Promised Land,” he said. “I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land.” Twenty-two hours later,…

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BATH, United Kingdom — Being too optimistic may lead to poor decisions, a surprising new study reveals. Researchers from the University of Bath found that, when it comes to your financial well-being, it actually helps to look at the glass as half-empty instead of focusing on the positives in life. It’s a stunning turn, seeming…

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NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Can’t remember if the glass is half-full or half-empty? Go with half-full. Researchers from the Yale School of Public Health find that a more positive attitude about aging and growing old may help older adults regain certain cognitive skills. In comparison to others with a more pessimistic take on aging, older individuals…

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NEW YORK — Can’t avoid that extra scoop of ice cream for dessert? You’re far from along. Nearly two in five (37%) people say they have a bigger sweet tooth now than when they were a kid, according to a new study. It turns out personality and marital status may even play a role in how…

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BERKELEY, Calif. — Are depressed people just more realistic about the futility of life? A new study says this long-held belief in “depressive realism” may be incorrect. Sad or cynical people are not necessarily wiser or less confident than their optimistic counterparts, according to researchers at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. New findings contradict…

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BOSTON — Being an optimist could lead to a longer life, according to new research. A large-scale study found those who “always look on the bright side of life” were more likely to make it to the age of 90. The phenomenon applied across racial and ethnic groups, adding to evidence that happiness is good…

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BOSTON, Mass. — Looking on the bright side of life may actually help you age more gracefully, a new study says. Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine looked at how optimism impacts a person’s health and found that staying positive helps people interpret stressful situations differently. In a study of older men, the team reveals…

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NEW HAVEN, Conn. — We’re already known as the land of the free, but according to survey data spanning 12 years, “land of the optimistic” would be an apt nickname as well. Despite dealing with multiple national crises since 2008 — from a recession to a global viral pandemic to movements against social injustice — Americans…

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BRISTOL, United Kingdom — Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, the world continues to wait for daily life to return to normal. However, is “normal” really what people want? A recent poll finds most people are actually hoping the world will become a fairer and more sustainable place after the pandemic. Unfortunately, few think it will…

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New survey shows that nearly 2 in 5 Americans rate their current mental health as ‘fair-to-poor,’ while more than half say the same about their sleep quality. NEW YORK — As the coronavirus pandemic nears the end of its second year, a new survey finds the global health crisis is taking a concerning toll on the…

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BATH, United Kingdom — Do you believe most people navigate life wearing rose-tinted glasses? In other words, do people naturally expect good things in their life and shoo away the thought of negative events? The theory that most people have a bias towards thinking optimistically is a common one. For instance, the U.K. government even accounts…

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NEW YORK — Usually when someone has a baby, it’s a joyous and family-filled event. Unfortunately, 2020 and the coronavirus pandemic changed all of that. Despite losing many of those shared experiences, three-quarters of new and expectant parents say their baby is their reason for optimism after a difficult year. A OnePoll study asked 2,000…

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DALLAS, Texas — The expression “healthy mind, healthy body” may have never been as relevant as it is in a new study on heart health. Researchers with the American Heart Association say positive mental health and generally staying optimistic about life can reduce a person’s chances of developing heart disease. “A person’s mind, heart and body…

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NEW YORK — Although most people are just happy to be in another year besides 2020, regaining their positivity will be a tough task moving forward. Seventy-six percent of Americans say it was harder to stay positive last year than ever before, according to a new survey. This isn’t to say it was impossible, though,…

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NEW YORK — There’s no question few people will look back fondly on the year 2020. In fact, a new survey finds 55 percent of Americans say 2020 was the worst year of their lives. All this negativity does have one silver lining though; more people are holding their loved ones tighter as they look…

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NEW YORK — What’s the key to happiness? Most people would probably answer that question with responses like love or family. Interestingly, a new survey of 2,000 Americans finds the true answer may be staying hydrated. The poll finds those who maintain proper hydration tend to be happier, more successful, and more energetic. Respondents who drink…

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EVANSTON, Ill. — Everyone has a favorite memory they want to keep forever. While many things will stick with us into our old age, physical and emotional conditions can eventually rob some of their ability to remember key events. Researchers at Northwestern University say there may be a way to stop this eventual decline: just…

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BOSTON — We’re told so often that hitting the gym and eating well will guide us to longer lives. Turns out keeping a healthy mind and embracing a positive outlook may be the real key to longevity, according to a study led by Harvard researchers. The study examined 70,000 women over eight years and found that…

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C.— In the midst of a pandemic, accumulating good days can be challenging for many people. While some people are able to appreciate what they have, others may struggle to find gratitude or other coping mechanisms. For those who regularly find joy in their days, particularly during a pandemic, what’s their secret? A…

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EAST LANSING, Mich. — Marriages and long-term relationships are rarely ever smooth sailing 100% of the time. A life-long partnership between two people is very much a journey that will inevitably experience peaks and valleys. That being said, as anyone who has been in such a relationship can attest, life is usually a whole lot more…

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UTRECHT, Netherlands — Math can be an especially difficult subject for students, and many develop a long-lasting sense of low self-esteem when it comes to mathematical skills very early in their academic careers. Now, a new study finds that children dealing with low self-confidence in their math skills can improve their performance on tests by simply…

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CHAMPAIGN, III — Falling asleep can feel like an impossible task sometimes. While some people fall asleep easier than others, everyone experiences the occasional sleepless night. Well, according to a new long-term study, the key to a better night’s sleep may just be looking on the bright side of life. Researchers from the University of Illinois…

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NEW YORK — People who literally view a glass as half-full rather than half-empty hold a more optimistic view of the world, are more patient, but also more competitive and assertive, according to a survey of 2,000 Americans. On the other hand, those who saw the glass as half-empty were found to be more laid-back…

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UNITED KINGDOM — In business, it pays to curb your enthusiasm. A study by researchers in the United Kingdom found that business owners who enter new ventures with great optimism earned about 30% less than entrepreneurs who are more wary of lofty expectations. The study’s authors say their findings may shed some light into why…

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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Be optimistic, at least in the morning. Just believing your day will be stressful after you wake up can cause you to be less productive and make a day at the office even harder, a new study finds. That’s because when you start a day off thinking about a later event that…

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PLYMOUTH, England — Sometimes, a little pessimism may good for you in the long run. A new study finds that people who see the glass being half full may be more likely to fall for scams because they view the reward potential greater than the risk. Mass marketing scams (MMS) often promise large sums of money,…

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LONDON — As Wanda, a character from the Netflix animated series “Bojack Horseman” says during a breakup scene, “When you look at someone through rose-colored glasses, all the red flags just look like flags.” While many might agree with such a profound statement, a new study finds that we still see ourselves and those we…

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CAMBRIDGE, Ma. — So much for optimism. Believing that the future or certain conditions will improve — particularly that others will come around to seeing things the same way we do — can lead us to inaction, a new study finds. Researchers at Harvard and UC Berkeley conducted six related studies to explore both the…

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