Are you a “glass-half-empty” or a “glass-half-full” type of person? A study showed that optimists (乐观主义者) are more likely to live longer than those who have a(n)     1     (愁眉苦脸) in life. The theory goes that optimists may find it easier to control their emotions. Here are some people’s opinions about how to stay positive.

Vicki Siska has been through some stressful times but has managed to remain optimistic. “Music    2     (使我高兴起来), a sense of humour keeps me seeing the bright side of things, and I have good friends who love and care for me,” she said.

Humour also helped Pippa Kennedy stay positive. She watched a TV show named Dad’s Army to help her get through a bad     3     (心情). “I also think being grateful for what you have and lots of chocolate help,” she added.

Sue Oakley Dunn says she remains positive and healthy because she does “what makes my soul sing”. She has plenty of hobbies to do for     4     (娱乐). “It works for me,” says Sue.

As well as the benefits of friendship and laughter, Robyn Black, who does yoga and has better access to    5     (医疗保健), recommends that staying fit and healthy is quite     6     (必不可少的).

8 . Music affects our emotions. We tend to listen to music that reflects our mood. When we’re happy we may listen to upbeat (愉快的) music; when we’re sad we may listen to slower and more moving songs; when we’re angry we may listen to darker music with heavy guitar, drums and songs that reflect our level of anger. We may not know why we prefer the artists we listen to, but we can learn a lot about ourselves through our musical tastes.

Consider John, a pleasant man in his mid-40s who describes his mid-20s as a time when he was figuring out his place in life. At the time, he considered himself to be cold, nervous, shy, well-mannered and sensitive. But the music he preferred to listen to was dark, heavy and aggressive. After some time in therapy (治疗), John realized he’d been repressing (抑制) anger and aggression due to years of childhood abuse, and music had become his voice. Now John has been able to unlock his previously hidden emotions and begin to work through the issues.

Cindy, a woman in her mid-30s, has struggled through years of depression. While depressed, she often listened to music that reflected sadness and emotional pain. However, Cindy also noted that she had a passion for upbeat music that made her want to dance and feel free from emotional struggle. But she rarely felt this energy and freedom without the music encouraging. It turned out that Cindy was an energetic and happy child. However, Cindy’s struggle with depression began after her mother’s death when she was 11 years old. With the help of therapy, Cindy is now in the process of breaking through the layer of depression that has covered her since her mother died.

In summary, while music can move us in an intense emotional moment, it also can be used to teach us about unconscious elements of our emotional structure. If we notice a pattern of emotional music that raises questions about our current feelings or about who we are, it could be an important opportunity for self-exploration.