If you’re more of a pessimistic Eeyore than an optimistic Winnie The Pooh-type, don’t worry. Optimism can be learned, just like any new skill or hobby. That’s according to Dr. John Tauer, a professor of psychology. His favorite fake-it-til-you-make-it trick? Force a smile when you’re feeling sad or angry. We have special "smile muscles," and those muscles send a message to your brain that you're happy, and your brain will believe it! Even holding a pencil between your teeth works to activate the chemicals in your brain that register happiness.

Need more motivation to think positively? Here’s what an optimistic attitude can do for you:

You won’t get sick as often. People who expect good things to happen have stronger immune systems. That’s because when you feel optimistic, immunity-boosting hormones get activated.

Optimistic people are also less likely to have a stroke: Optimism is associated with a slower buildup of plaque in your arteries that can lead to a stroke. And a University of Michigan study found that the more positive people were, the lower their odds of having a stroke.

One last benefit of a good attitude? You’ll make better decisions. Negative emotions can lead to tunnel vision, you focus on only the problem.

But people who are more positive focus on the big picture. They’re more flexible, roll-with-the-punches people. So they have an easier time thinking their way out of problems, seeing solutions, or even seeing the silver lining.