The difference between optimists and pessimists isn’t simple cheerfulness: it’s how they cope with stress. Professor Michael Scheier explains that optimists consistently outlive pessimists because optimists cope better with adversity. Optimists deal with their stress and take action to handle it, while pessimists deny problems or disengage. These coping mechanisms actually affect people on a cellular level. Optimists not only live longer, they live better, having better mobility, circulation, and cognitive faculties into old age. Thankfully, optimism is something you can learn. Keep watching.