A new year for optimism

Happy new year to all our UTS students and families! I hope you all enjoyed a revitalizing and restful holiday break and are ready to take on the new year with anticipation and enthusiasm.

As an eternal optimist, I love the sense of hope that comes with a new year, which feels especially true about a new year at UTS, a school that brims with ideas and possibilities. There is so much we will learn, and our students and staff have many plans, big ideas and adventures in education to look forward to. I can hardly wait to see what this year brings for our school.

Can simply adopting an optimistic mindset, and expecting good things, make a difference? The research says yes. We can improve mental health and well-being, simply by expecting things to turn out well! By being optimistic you develop that vital resilience for those moments when life gets challenging, and become better able to handle difficult situations. When you expect the best, your actions aren’t clouded by the fear of what might go wrong, which makes it easier to think clearly and do what is needed to respond to a situation, even in times of crisis.

There’s evidence for physical health as well. A positive outlook on life means a 35 per cent less chance of getting heart disease, according to a review of 15 studies with a total of over 200,000 participants that was cited in a Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada article.

Optimism can also prevent depression and lower stress, and even lead to a longer life!

Being hopeful for the future and thinking things will work out in your favour goes a long way towards achieving goals and enhancing productivity. Most of all, it’s simply more fun and joyful to anticipate the good, and expect the best. Optimism puts a spring in your step and a sparkle in your eyes. People gravitate towards optimism. We like it! It makes us feel good, inspires confidence and encourages the kind of risks that lead to innovations that can solve crucial issues facing our world today. 

So while I know these can be challenging times, I hope you will join me in embracing the new year with a sense of exhilaration and excitement. Great things lie in store – I truly believe this! And I can’t wait to see what the new year brings for UTS.

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