It could help you avoid heart disease.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found that adults with a positive attitude were 33% less likely to develop coronary heart disease than more pessimistic people. And even among people with the highest risk for heart disease – because of age or family history – having an upbeat outlook cut their risk of heart disease in half.

Here are two possible reasons why:

• Being positive protects against heart-damaging stress, which triggers inflammation.

• And studies show that positive people are more likely to engage in healthy behaviors, like exercise.