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I read the article “Look on the bright side and survive longer” with interest but was given pause by the fact that the nuns knew their autobiographies were “to be read by the congregation’s Mother Superior.” I think this may seriously undermine the conclusions drawn. Even without this problem, I think a basic distinction should have been addressed: Do these data show a longevity benefit from expressing positive emotions or from possessing positive emotions? To distinguish between these possibilities, a study would have to measure both “expressed happiness” and “actual happiness” somehow and look at the difference in outcome for people with various combinations.