Succeeding in everything in life is not a matter of lucky stars. A study carried out by Harvard researchers shows that the secret to achievement and success lies in very specific mental qualities.
In psychology, it is said that luck only favors the well-prepared mind. We all have a person in our circle for whom everything seems to work. She goes through the challenges of everyday life with disconcerting resilience, seems to attract opportunities and displays an energy that many envy. Is it just a matter of luck? A study carried out by researchers from Boston and Harvard Universities shows that the secret of successful people does not lie in having a lucky star but in very specific mental qualities.
Contrary to popular belief, succeeding in life does not mean never encountering failures. According to researchers, the major difference lies in the way our brain processes information and anticipates the future. By cultivating certain psychological predispositions, these “winners” not only influence their social and professional success, but also act directly on their biology, reducing their stress and even extending their life expectancy.
By analyzing numerous studies on longevity and positive psychology, researchers have realized that people who succeed in everything in their lives share five essential qualities. First of all, realistic optimism: it is not having blind confidence in everything, but having the deep conviction that one has the abilities to make the most of each situation. These people also have a feeling of self-efficacy: it is the fact of believing in one’s own skills to accomplish a task, which is a powerful engine that boosts motivation and perseverance. Then, they are open to opportunities: instead of locking themselves into a rigid plan, these people know how to remain attentive to happy coincidences and transform the unexpected into luck or opportunity, reports an article in Science Focus, citing this study.
The fourth quality is gratitude: these people take the time to recognize the positive aspects of their daily lives, which also regulates cortisol (the stress hormone) and improves cardiovascular health. Finally, they are endowed with a great capacity for positive visualization: they already imagine themselves succeeding in their project as if they were already there, to give the brain the “instructions” for success. The good news is that psychology is not fixed and these qualities are accessible to each of us. Simple exercises can “rewire” the brain. For example, take 10 minutes a day to write a future scenario where everything went well in a specific area (career, health or relationships). By visualizing the steps to this success, you teach your brain to identify the real opportunities that relate to it. Another exercise: every evening, write down three positive moments from your day, no matter how simple they may be (a good coffee, a smile, a completed task). This habit forces your attention to scan for the positive rather than getting stuck on the problems.
Finally, when faced with an unexpected event, the active optimist does not deny the difficulty: he integrates it. Instead of saying “It’s a problem, but I have no choice“, test: “It’s an obstacle, and I’m going to use my skills to get around it“. This is where the feeling of self-efficacy is born. By moving from passive pessimism to active optimism, we are not only changing our view of the world: we are giving our body and our mind the concrete means to succeed in the long term. It is a daily training which, according to this study, could save us several years of healthy life.
