What is optimism and what does it mean to be optimistic? Optimism comes from the Latin word “optimus” which means “best” and is defined as “a tendency to anticipate the best possible outcome.” Difficulties are inevitable, but how you decide to handle the situation determines who you are. Imagine waking up knowing that you might lose your mother or that your brother is no longer alive. These realities can happen in the blink of an eye; and choosing to be happy is a choice only you can make. Not only are optimistic people positive, encouraging motivation, and turning horrible conditions into positive situations, but studies have shown that they have better health than those who are pessimistic. Growing up, I experienced many challenges, not only with your physical health, but also with your psychological health. “Optimism has been found to be negatively correlated with depression, anxiety, anger, perception of daily problems, physical symptoms and job burnout, and positively correlated with life satisfaction, physical and mental health positive, a lower frequency of mental disorders and self-awareness. estimate” (Strassle, McKee and Plant, 1999, p. 191-192). Having a positive outlook allows you to cope better with stressful situations, which in return reduces the harmful effects of stress on your body. Harvard Health Publications conducted a study and the results were shocking: “Over a four-year period, very pessimistic men were three times more likely to develop hypertension than more cheerful people, even after taking other risk factors into account . second stage breast cancer. Many have heard of breast cancer stories and seen the fundraising campaigns that take place, but only when someone you know is diagnosed does this become real. Four months ago Erin, my mother's friend, found a lump on her left breast. Immediately after finding it, she was in a hurry to see the doctor. The day she found out she had been diagnosed was no joke, the doctors had wanted to remove the lump that Friday, she had been seen on Monday. Doctors were concerned that if the cancer had spread to the lymphatic ducts, radiation might not work. Cancer is a scary thing, and for Erin, who is the strongest woman I know, she has never let it deteriorate her. Yes, there were times when that day felt like it would never end and the crying came with it, but he never gave up hope of beating this cancer. She maintained motivation to go to work, take care of her three children and carry on with her daily life. Even when she was going through the hardest times, like shaving off all her hair, she always had a smile on her face and chose to see the good in things and be grateful for her three beautiful children. Along with Erin, my best friend's father was diagnosed with liver cancer and was expected to live two to five years longer. To a teenager