Which do you prefer: Optimism or Pessimism?

[Seanchaidh]

I'm really curious about this as there are sooo many people here *.* and everyone has different opinions. I prefer optimism and try to be so as I would rather spend my time smiling and being cheery towards others and hopeful of something good coming my way instead of sitting on a couch sulking and worried about my life getting worse. So which stance do you prefer and why?

[KwikDraw13]

I am neither. I would say I'm a philosipher, I look at it in either way, depending on which one is right. The problem is, lots of things can be viewed from both ways (And I don't mean by making up "At least the ____ is _____" type things) So I usually look at it pessimistically.

[Seanchaidh]

I agree partly but if you mostly focus on the bad and negative things, then you tend to miss the good. Now I don't know about you, but I would rather have something to smile about rather than something to cry about. :# Ooooh ^^ I'm a poet and I don't know it haha :3

[Photolysis]

"A pessimist is what an optimist calls a realist."

[Raspberry]

I prefer optimism, I think generally it just carries people further. But that whole glass full glass empty thing? I always say glass empty goddammit.

[Original Poster]

It's much easier to be optimistic when addressing situations realistically and with attachment to no particular outcome. It's much more difficult to be pessimistic when one stops comparing things that are not meant to be compared, such as people.

[Alric]

I am very much an optimist, and I would like to think I am a realist as well. There is a lot of reason for hope, even when things are going badly. I see a lot of bad things going on in the world, but I believe things will turn out well. One reason is because of advancing technology, which I think will help solve a lot of problems we are having.

[Seanchaidh]

To me, being an optimist is all about seeing everything: good and bad. Yes, there is pain, sadness and there are those who are mean, but why hide or shield ourselves from those things when there are also happiness, beauty and fun stuff too? It's silly and a waste of time feeling as though life is against you and that only bad things are coming to you. You only feel that way because you are only focussing on the bad. If you look long and hard enough you'll find something to smile about in a bad situation. My motto is: no matter how dark and cloudy the sky, there is always a clear patch of blue.

[acatalephobic]

Negative emotions have an uncanny way of snowballing. Sometimes I wonder why it's so rare to see positive emotions snowball in the same way. I often hear people say things like, "could today get any worse?" and "it's been one bad thing after another today", or "it's all been downhill since ___ happened" etc...but very rarely do I hear anyone say, "man, I don't think this day could get any better!" or "if one more good thing happens, I just might explode!" If something gets me down, pessimism is only going to drag me down even further. If I spend more time noticing bad/expecting bad to happen, or if I allow negativity to influence my thoughts or actions...it becomes really easy to miss out on the positive impact that even small moments of happiness can bring. So, if there's even a chance of something else bad happening--which of course, there always is--optimism is, in my opinion, the only way to go. [Unless I want to linger in the bad and negative, and allow it to snowball indefinately...which doesn't sound fun at all.] Applying a positive attitude to negative situations just makes the most sense to me. It helps me to think more clearly, and counteracts the negativity I often find elsewhere. Just as an example, if for some reason a friend is feeling particularly pessimistic, my first instinct is to try to give them some sort of positive to hold onto...a rope ladder, if you will, that leads up and out of the negative attitude they seem stuck in [the one that appears to be making them unhappy]. To me it would seem illogical to meet their negativity with more of the same. And when I remember to treat myself as I would treat the friend in that scenario, I know I'm really in the swing of things. : }

[Seanchaidh]

Really touching post Acata. I like to use the Chan Buddhist method of finding happiness in small things: like the cool breeze on a hot summer day, the sunrise and the simple smell of fresh air. It's easy and amazing how simple things like those can really lift your spirits

[ty4TheAdventure]

Optimism. From the way I think (and this is nothing new ), your perception of the world IS your world. That doesn't mean lie to yourself and ignore the bad. It just means be hopeful and positive. That way, you can also enjoy life when the time calls for enjoyment and having fun. And when its time to work, improve, aid or help, or get involved in something not so positive, your attitude will carry you through and inspire those around you as well.

[Seanchaidh]

I agree with you niteLite. A positive and cheery attitude really does help during dismal situations and it can even rub off on those around and help them stay cheery too ^^

[Xei]

Pragmatist. Ta da!

[Seanchaidh]

What's a pragmatist? @.@

[ItsMEE]

hmm. I don't know which I prefer, but I'm definately a pessimist, even though people I meet tend to think I'm an optimist :/

[Seanchaidh]

That's kind of ironic...hehe ^^ Furthermore your avatar suggests you're an optimist too by the character's smiley, care-free nature.

[ItsMEE]

hehe

[Seanchaidh]

Oh, oooowww.... ...what you've wrote in your signature ItsMEE...that kind of thing hurts my head @.@ :3

[Xei]

[Zhaylin]

I'm an Optimist... with pessimistic undertones. My motto is: "Hope for the best but plan for the worst." Even if I'm sad or angry about something, I'll still wear a genuine smile around others. "Act happy and eventually you'll feel happy." lol I also figure that just because I'm in a slump, doesn't mean I should bring others down with me.

[DeeryTheDeer]

"A pessimist is what an optimist calls a realist." That quote makes no sense. Pessimists usually call themselves "realists" as an excuse for their boo-hooing, but optimists see past that because they understand that there's good with the bad, it's not all bad, and they are the ones who succeed. I always aim to be an optimist. It can be hard with anxiety and anger, but I have plenty to be happy and inspired about.

[Wayfaerer]

I think there is immense value in both, I prefer a balance.

[Scatterbrain]

"A pessimist is what an optimist calls a realist." That's implying being optimist and being realist are mutually exclusive.

[Arra]

I try to see things realistically. If something genuinely upsets me, I let myself realize it. I would never force myself to focus on the positive or the negative. if I feel a certain way toward something, I feel it. If I chose to focus only on the positive or negative, it would be a bit like I was brainwashing myself, preventing myself from seeing things honestly, which I wouldn't want to do. I personally tend to focus on the negative, especially lately as there's a lot of crap in my life right now, but I would not try to force myself to think any other way than my mind naturally wants to. It feels dishonest. My mind is kind of dividing optimism or just happiness into two types. First, there is optimism based on ignorance. A person who exercises this is likely to tell others to be happy and smile, without actually realizing that there might be something very wrong and that they can't handle the situation like that. I find this type quite annoying. Second, there's optimism that comes through understanding. This is a lot rarer and better, and if I were to force myself to be happy I don't think I'd ever experience it. I experience it sometmes, in the midsts of depression, I'll see the stars and moon or something and feel there is hope, think about life and how we are here, etc. That positivity that comes through understanding is honest and I have no problem with that type.

[Seanchaidh]

Hmm...it definitely seems something is depressing you Dianeva :_( Heh. My life was...is like that. As of now, I have no job, I claim benefits, I live with my parents and my social life is non-existent. I have a good number of reasons for crying and feeling down. But there is some good, I'll be going into college soon and once there, I'm gonna join clubs, work out (I'm a bit flabby from eating sweets XD ) and make friends. But until then, I just have to wait. Oh well... haha! See? It's as Confucius says: "Bad news is always followed by good news".