“Dr. Seligman’s overall conclusion from these and other studies is that is not the world per se that puts us at increased risk of illness so much as how we see and think about what is happening to us. A highly pessimistic pattern of explaining the cause of bad or stressful events when they occur seems to have particularly toxic consequences. Dr. Seligman’s work suggests that this way of thinking puts people at risk for illness and may explain why some people are more susceptible to illness and premature death than others, when other factors such as age, sex, smoking habits and diet have been taken into account. A pattern of optimistic thinking in response to stressful events, on the other hand, appears to have a protective effect against depression, illness and premature death.”
Jon Kabat-Zinn: “Full Catastrophe Living”: Negativity and Pessimism and a Reduced Lifespan
