So many people think of optimism and happiness as though it’s something you can work on and decide to have. Think about it: How many times in your life have you been told to “Look on the bright side?” But what if your outlook on life wasn’t necessarily a conscious decision at all, and actually was written into your genetic code?
In the video below, AsapSCIENCE says that you’re genetically predisposed to think of the glass as either half-full or half-empty. Even more, they explain how most people are hardwired to lean toward optimism, in a way that affects both how you go about your day-to-day and how you imagine your future.
Knowing this might not only give you better insight into your own attitude at the office, but into other people's as well. If your co-worker always points out the worst-case scenario, perhaps he isn’t trying to undermine you, but instead predisposed to thinking that way. Same goes for a colleague who always glosses over potential issues.
The more you know about the folks you work with every day, the easier it’ll be to collaborate with them.