If you have ever lain awake worrying about tomorrow, you are not alone. The brain has a remarkable ability to imagine problems before they happen — but it can also imagine possibilities.

The evidence

A large population study found people with the highest levels of optimism had dramatically lower odds of chronic insomnia than those with the lowest (Weitzer et al., 2021). Optimism doesn’t make challenges disappear; it gives the brain permission to believe tomorrow doesn’t have to repeat today, which often makes it easier to let go.

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.