Do you see the glass as half-full rather than half empty？Do you keep your eye upon the doughnut，not upon the hole？Suddenly these clichés are scientific questions，as researchers scrutinize the power of positive thinking. Research is proving that optimism can help you to be happier，healthier and more successful. Pessimism leads，by contrast，to hopelessness，sickness and failure，and is linked to depression，loneliness and painful shyness. If we could teach people to think more positively，it would be like inoculating them against these mental ills.

Your habits count but the belief that you can succeed affects whether or not you will. In part，that‘s because optimists and pessimists deal with the same challenges and disappointments in very different ways. When things go wrong the pessimist tends to blame himself.“I’m not good at this.”“I always fail.”He would say. But the optimist looks for loopholes. Negative or positive，it was a self-fulfilling prophecy. If people feel hopeless they don‘t bother to acquire the skills they need to succeed.

A sense of control is the litmus test for success. The optimist feels in control of his own life. If things are going badly，he acts quickly，looking for solutions，forming a new plan of action，and reaching out for advice. The pessimist feels like fate‘s plaything and moves slowly. He doesn’t seek advice，since he assumes nothing can be done. Many studies suggest that the pessimist‘s feeling f helplessness undermines the body’s natural defenses，the immune system. Research has found that the pessimist doesn‘t take good care of himself. Feeling passive and unable to dodge life’s blows，he expects ill health and other misfortunes，no matter what he does. He munches on junk food，avoids exercise，ignores the doctor，had another drink.

Most people are a mix of optimism and pessimism，but are inclined in one direction or the other. It is a pattern of thinking learned at our mothers‘knees. It grown out of thousands of cautions or encouragements，negative statements or positives ones. Too many“don’t”and warnings of danger can make a child feel incompetent，fearful—and pessimistic. Pessimism is hard habit to break—but it can be done.

你看到的会是半满的杯子，还是半空的杯子？你看到的是炸面包圈，还是炸面包圈中间的空洞？在研究学家们研究“乐观向上的思维”时，这些看起来没有什么意义的问题都变成了科学问题。研究表明，乐观的精神可以有助于人变得更快乐，更健康，更成功。相反悲观主义则会导致人的绝望，疾病，和失败。悲观主义也常常和情绪低落，孤独，痛苦和害羞相联系。如果我们可以教会人们“积极乐观的思维”，就如同我们在人们身体里注入了预防心理疾病的疫苗一样。

你的一定会成功的信念很大程度度上影响着你是否可以成功。这部分是因为乐观主义者和悲观主义者在应对挑战和失望的方式是有很大差别的。如果事情出了问题时，悲观主义者总是则怪自己，对自己说：“我这方面不行，” “我总是失败”。 但是乐观主义者总会看到好的一面。积极和消极他们是自我实现的预言。如果一个人感到绝望，那么他也不会想着去学习某种技能来实现成功。

自我控制是能否成功的“试剂”。乐观主义者认为他的生活在自己的掌控之中，如果事情有了不好的变化，他会及时采取行动，找到解决问题的方法，形成新的解决方案，也会主动寻求不同的建议。而悲观主义者会觉得命运弄人，不能迅速行动。认为什么也解决不了，所以也不会寻求他人的建议。很多研究都表明悲观主义者的绝望情绪会破坏人体自然防御机能——免疫系统。研究也表明悲观主义者不能很好的照顾自己。表现被动，感觉无法躲避生活的打击，不论做什么对未来都有疾病和不行发生这样的预期。他们通常总吃垃圾食品，不做体育锻炼，不听医生的劝告，不控制的喝酒等等。