Most of us think of imagination as entertainment. Your brain sees it differently.
The evidence
Research has shown that spending time vividly imagining your best possible future can reduce levels of cortisol, one of the body’s primary stress hormones (Nicolson et al., 2020). Hope isn’t just a pleasant feeling — it has measurable effects on your biology.
Why it works
Your brain constantly asks one question: what should I prepare for next? If the answer is always danger, the body stays on alert. When you regularly picture meaningful possibilities, the nervous system begins preparing for those instead — and the stress axis, reflected in the cortisol-to-DHEA-S balance, follows.
What mindspan measures
mindspan measures morning cortisol and DHEA-S together and reports their balance as a resilience index — the flagship metric of the Optimism Biology Report.
References
- Nicolson NA, et al. Best-possible-self imagery reduces cortisol. 2020.
This article is for education and general wellbeing. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and does not replace your physician. mindspan is a wellness screen, not a diagnostic test.
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