Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, are being treated in Australia for COVID-19. On Thursday, they shared a social media post with a picture of themselves and an update:
“Hello folks. Rita Wilson and I want to thank everyone
here Down Under who are taking such good care of us. We have Covid-19 and are
in isolation so we do not spread it to anyone else. There are those for whom it
could lead to a very serious illness. We are taking it one-day-at-a-time. There
are things we can all do to get through this by following the advice of experts
and taking care of ourselves and each other, no?”
Then the message closes: “Remember, despite all the current events, there is no crying in baseball. Hanx.”
Tom Hanks’ optimistic spirit is not surprising to anyone who
has followed his career. But such a positive attitude is also vital to his
health—and to ours.
Optimism has been linked to positive outcomes for coronary
artery bypass surgery patients and those with hypertension. It has also been
shown to lessen the development of heart disease. In one study, optimistic
volunteers were less likely to develop viral symptoms than their less positive
peers.
Remarkably, a US study found that the most pessimistic individuals had a 42 percent higher death rate than the most optimistic. A study in Holland similarly found that those who demonstrated dispositional optimism showed a 45 percent lower risk of death.
The healing power of optimism
How can we develop and strengthen an optimistic spirit?
One: Seek to be positive.
As Joshua was preparing to lead the people of Israel into
the Promised Land, the Lord said to him, “Be strong and courageous. Do not
be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is
with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
We cannot always choose our circumstances, but we can choose
how we respond to them.
Two: Base your optimism on the power of God.
One of the most positive people I have…
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