I was asked a question: “Why is making the best out of life essential?”

It isn’t essential, but it is a choice. Whether you choose it or not is up to you. It’s no secret, it has been written and talked about since the ancient Greeks, at least.

A ‘making the best out of life’ mindset is beneficial because it reflects psychological resilience, optimism, better relationships and better overall health. It is also linked to the ability to adapt well in the face of adversity, trauma, or stress, and the inevitable challenges that are part of life.

Research in positive psychology consistently shows that individuals who reframe challenges and focus on what can be learned or gained tend to experience better mental health outcomes. Instead of ruminating on what cannot be controlled, they direct energy toward constructive coping strategies, which reduces vulnerability to anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Cognitive appraisal theory explains part of this process. How we evaluate events – whether we see them as threats or challenges – shapes our emotional response. By consciously choosing to “make the best” of a situation, we engage in positive reappraisal, a well-documented coping mechanism associated with greater well-being.

Psychological flexibility

This doesn’t erase difficulty, but it creates psychological flexibility, which allows people to navigate setbacks without being overwhelmed. Psychological flexibility is linked to numerous positive outcomes, including improved mental and physical health, better relationships, enhanced quality of life, higher stress resilience, and greater ability to engage in personally meaningful activities.

It too is associated with lower levels of depression, anxiety, and insomnia, as well as improved general functioning and the absence of negative consequences

Another relevant concept is learned optimism, developed by Dr Martin Seligman. Learned optimism involves developing the skill of changing negative thought patterns to adopt a more positive and constructive mindset, thereby enhancing well-being and resilience

Making the best out of life mirrors this approach, reducing feelings of helplessness and fostering self-agency. Over time, this mindset builds resilience, a protective factor against mental illness.

Look on the bright side

Although it is easy to dismiss popular sayings like “Look on the bright side”, or, “Every cloud has a silver lining” as trite and even uncaring, there is more than a kernel of truth in such maxims. They might seem like motivational slogans, and nobody likes to hear them trotted out as unthinking response to genuine suffering. Well intentioned they may be, but they can seem insensitive and they can easily be overused. But the essence of distilled wisdom from the pool of human experience is there: “Make the best out of life because it lessens suffering”.

Relationships are stronger

Social psychology also points to the benefits in relationships. People who display constructive coping are more likely to receive social support, since others perceive them as approachable and solution-focused rather than draining. The reciprocal support of a supportive relationship is a determinant of long-term psychological health.

All relationships have their ups and downs. A ‘making the best’ mindset means we are more able to weather the inevitable challenges in our intimate relationships by seeing the bigger picture and keeping a balanced perspective. This counters a tendency to catastrophise or over-dramatise disagreement, which would be to the detriment of the relationship.

More recent evidence from neuroscience research suggests that practices like gratitude and reframing activate brain circuits linked to reward and regulation, reinforcing a sense of meaning, even under stress.

In short, ‘making the best out of life’ isn’t just a motivational slogan – it’s a scientifically supported way of thinking that is also acknowledged by the works of thinkers and philosophers for thousands of years. It encourages a lifestyle, mindset and behaviours that enhance resilience, strengthens relationships, and improves overall psychological well-being.

Photo: Photo by Bekka Mongeau: https://www.pexels.com