Why is optimism important for an employee?

An added plus in the workplace is the fact that optimism makes you smarter. Researchers have shown that positive emotions actually fuel creativity and enhance your reasoning skills, creating more successful results. This is because a positive mood changes the way your brain processes information. If you’re under stress, feel beaten down, or are in a sad mood, your brain hunkers down. You become more detached and cautious because your brain focuses on what’s wrong and how to eliminate it. On the other hand, when you are in a relaxed, cheerful mood, your brain opens up. More neurons fire and your brain is likely to enter into a creative, exploratory state. You begin to seek out new experiences in your environment. You feel expansive, generous, tolerant and productive.