Even when the objective outcomes are the same

I would rather be an optimist about everything and be wrong in the end, than be a pessimist and be right and have to live that way.

Because the reality is the same, but the math is different. In terms of energetic output.

Have you ever met a true pessimist? They’re not only unhappy, but exhausting. I honestly don’t know where people find the time to be so negative. It’s so labor intensive.

I don’t know about you, but I have shit to do. Optimism is much more streamlined. By focusing on the positive, you tax your nervous system significantly less.

It’s funny, there’s endless research, books and resources about the upsides of optimism. Throw a rock and you’ll find another study about how positivity improves overall wellbeing.

But what I would love to see is a scientific study exploring how much more efficient optimism really is.

I have a friend with a doctorate in psychology, and she told me how to set up the experiment. To conduct a scientific study on how efficient optimism is, specifically in terms of energetic output, nervous system strain, and task throughput, you’d need a mixed methods research design that combines psychophysiological measures and behavioral performance.

My hypothesis is that optimism requires less physiological energy and leads to greater task efficiency than pessimism, even when the objective outcomes are the same.

So we’ll take a hundred people, randomly assigning them to two groups. The optimists imagine positive outcomes and read affirming and hopeful content. While the pessimists imagine negative outcomes and read cynical, defeatist consent.

Then we measure heart rate variability, galvanic skin response and cortisol levels. Not to mention, cognitive performance and task completion rate.

For our behavioral follow up, we ask participants to go about their day and log behavior according to these questions.

When you think of the future, do you feel excited, or like your bones are slowly turning to dust inside your body? Do you believe in the resilience of the human spirit, or do you think we’re all just bags of wet carbon spiraling toward entropy?

I anticipate the results of this study proving me right. Optimism leads to lower physiological arousal, greater cognitive efficiency, and higher energy preservation. Pessimism results in more nervous system load, lower task efficiency, and increased tendency to sigh so loudly that nearby plants begin to wilt.

Would you rather be an optimist about everything and be wrong at the end? Or be a pessimist and be right and have to live that way?

Do the math. Positive is the way to go. Even if it’s not true. That doesn’t mean it’s not real and useful.

I think that’s what trips people up. They can’t get over that existential hump. They object to optimism because it feels inauthentic. Having a positive attitude feels like deluding themselves into thinking everything is going to be okay.

Exactly. That’s the point. Look, I think honesty is important, but I also think there’s a time and a place to bullshit yourself. Sometimes you gotta optimize for the lie. If only to make your experience of life less riddled with suffering.

Here’s a parallel example. Trusting strangers. Call me crazy, but I would much rather be occasionally disappointed than walk around with my guard up all the time, withholding my heart from anyone and everyone.

That was one of the first lessons I learned when I started wearing a nametag. The vast majority of people are not going to kill you. Sure, there’s about one percent of the population who are clinical psychopaths. But most of them are locked up. And the ones running loose are living on the streets. So when it comes to human connection, the emotional cost versus actual risk is a no brainer.

Same principle applies to mindset. Why optimize for fear when you can optimize for freedom? Take the efficient choice. Give your nervous system a break and focus on the positive.

Here’s a simple exercise to help put this principle into action.

Back when I was hosting my product development and innovation gameshow, one of the rules I explained to contestants beforehand was this. Anytime another player comes up with an idea, no matter how absurd, disturbing or expensive it is, the first words out of your mouth should be, what I love about this idea is.

These seven words fundamentally alter the trajectory of every conversation. What I love about this idea is.

I promise you, those seven words are life changing.

Rewire your reflexes towards positive by finding value, no matter how absurd, flawed or unrealistic something may seem.