Are you a pessimist or an optimist?

[beckms]

Is the glass half empty or half full?

Do you think it possible to ever become an optimist if you have spent your whole life as a pessimist?

Can you choose to be an optimist, even if it is not in your nature, and really convince yourself? Or will you always feel like you are faking your smile?

[SusanL]

no other way to look at things! JHMO! It gets me through the tough times.

[sneezles]

I voted pessimist and I think that goes with my cynical nature. There have been times when I've been optomistic though not often.

[oceanjasper]

I had this conversation with a friend the other day and while my outlook is generally very positive, we decided that I was more of a "realist" than an "optimist". :)

[Robyn1007]

If I always looked on the bad side of things I would be miserable. Its good to be careful but in the end I believe it will all work out.

[BucknellAlum]

I had this conversation with a friend the other day and while my outlook is generally very positive, we decided that I was more of a "realist" than an "optimist". :)

I cannot shake the skeptical, cynical voice inside my head, however outwardly I always appear calm and upbeat. I finally decided I am an "optimistic pessimist"!

I see the half-empty glass, but I think someone is coming right back to fill it up!

[sneezles]

I cannot shake the skeptical, cynical voice inside my head, however outwardly I always appear calm and upbeat. I finally decided I am an "optimistic pessimist"!

I see the half-empty glass, but I think someone is coming right back to fill it up!


That does sort of describe me as well...I truly hope everything will work out but I'm not too disappointed if it doesn't either!

[tbb113]

I had this conversation with a friend the other day and while my outlook is generally very positive, we decided that I was more of a "realist" than an "optimist". :)


I was going to say I'm a realist with optimistic leanings ;)

[cookieee]

I cannot shake the skeptical, cynical voice inside my head, however outwardly I always appear calm and upbeat. I finally decided I am an "optimistic pessimist"!

I see the half-empty glass, but I think someone is coming right back to fill it up!

I love it!!!!! That is so cool.

[Peggy]

I'm definately an optimist. :D Interestingly enough, most of my closest friends are pessimists.

Peggy

[LakeMartinGal]

I'm the optimist, with pessimistic tendencies... Easily disappointed, but bounce back pretty quickly, too... ;)

ETA -- I tend to me more pessimistic about personal things, such as: will DH remember our anniversary... he always does, but I always wonder... :o

[dreamer]

Such fascinating answers. This BB sure has a lot of thoughtful people. BucknellAlum, loved your comment.
I am a pessimist- but feel that sometimes, for me, this just shades into being a realist- it helps me to look at problems this way so I can catch things I want to do to get a better outcome. And although I'm very aware of negatives, I also have an intense affinity for things I find fun and beautiful. I love to have fun!
-dreamer

[wallycat]

I voted pessimist and I think that goes with my cynical nature. There have been times when I've been optomistic though not often.


Couldn't have said it better :)

PESSIMIST here :(

[lindrusso]

Optimist with pessimistic tendencies here, I think.

I'm beginning to be more of an optimist as time goes on. I think that dealing with DH's cancer has actually lead me to have a more positive view on life overall. I may sometimes be a bit more gun-shy (read: worry a little more quickly about some things) about certain things due to that experience, but in the end I think I can get through the tough things with a more positive attitude in the long run. If we had been pesimistic through his illness and had not tried to carry on as normally as possible with a positive outlook, it would have damaged our family quite a bit or at the very least, made us and our children utterly miserable.

I can't live my life in fear and doubt and gloom and I certainly don't want my kids to be brought up with that attitude. So for me, it's okay to be scared and to worry, but not okay to live life always accentuating the negative.

My way of reacting to things now is to worry and stress at first, but to always be looking for the positive side and try to work through things instead of wallowing. So, it's not that I don't have pessimistic thoughts, but I try to cast those aside as quickly as possible and look for the positive. Sometimes I have to look a LOT harder than others, but I do try. :)

[Grace]

Definitely an optimist here. My mother even calls me Pollyanna sometimes. :rolleyes: Maybe I do have my head in the sand sometimes in terms of thinking things are rosier than they are, but at least I'm not miserable. :D I have actually experienced miserable to a great degree in my life, and so compared to that, everything seems quite rosy to me. :D I know it can ALWAYS be worse, and is for many people.

I also believe very strongly that what you believe is your reality. So I'd prefer my reality to be a good one. :D

[Terri_A]

I answered O.O. simply because I'm both - I'm a realist. I hope for the best, but always prepare for the worst. Perhaps it's the former Girl Scout in me! :D

I can be a bit cynical and think that's a part of my personality, but I also often find the silver lining after a dissappointment.

So, really I guess my answer is, I don't know!

[beckms]

I also believe very strongly that what you believe is your reality. So I'd prefer my reality to be a good one. :D

YES!!!! Sheesh, if only certain pessimists I know would believe that, too...

Negativity breeds negativity, I've always said. The only one in charge of your life is you, so make it what you want.

[Canice]

I think I'm an optimist but don't know how my friends see me; I could be fooling myself. My cynical perspectives generally come from solid, relevant experience, so I consider them realistic because, you know, that burner is HOT.

I'm definitely not a worrier (I find it tiresome, and a total waste of emotional energy) and I have a couple of people in my life who will find a negative perspective on the happiest or most benign of things and it makes me soooo angry. I guess they think they're being "realistic" but to me it's just a bunch of self-indulgent negativity. Blech.

[Aubergine]

another optomist with cynical ideation. but i generaly start each day as a fresh slate with renewed hope, i always look for the best (or something good) in people, the glass is always half-full (although not for long, lol). i've been through some pretty tough stuff over the years, and although my post 9-11 motto still is, "life s*cks, and then you don't die," i also believe that adversity builds strength of character, and there are lessons to be learned in every situation.

can one change one's stripes? after living with SO for 6 years, i think they can be altered, if not entirely changed. he was a fiercely angry and cynical curmudgeon, and i've worked hard to hammer a different view into his stubborn head. ex: he hated and mistrusted all of the neighbors, on principle. since i'm gregarious and have gotten to know them, he now talks with them and takes a sincere interest in their lives.

[Laura]

I am an optimist and SO is a pessimist (although he prefers realist); it is difficult for both of us sometimes being with someone who views situations so differently.

[HejazSunKat]

I am an "optimistic pessimist"!


Same here. I don't want to view the world in a negative way because it seems like there wouldn't be much point in getting out of bed in the morning if you were always expecting the worst but danged if the world doesn't seem to be forever trying to ruin my buzz. :) If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome that's probably a good description of an optimist too but I'm still trying to look at the bright side because what's the alternative? The older I get the less patience I seem to have for people who never have anything good to say. Either quit or slit your wrists but please, take it elsewhere and don't drag me down into your miserable little puddle of muck too. I'd rather not go there thank you. Barring a real medical reason for being depressed I think one's attitude is a choice and if we look for the worst in people or situations we'll find it.

[Kay Henderson]

I marked optimist which, though I can be cynical, I find to be a more satisfactory outlook. I think it has to do with the degree to which you believe problems can be solved. I think a individuals, communities, and countries are far more likely to have success when they look for opportunities in a difficult situation rather than giving up.

Kay

[mbrogier]

I'm an optomist. Life is short, it can suck at times, but things will get better eventually.

I do believe that what we put into life is what we get out of it. I can choose to be happy everyday or be miserable everyday--the facts of my life aren't going to change a bit.

[sneezles]

As a pessimist (though I do think now that I am a realist after reading the responses here) I don't wallow, I don't be-moan my existence, and I don't approach a situation with gloom and doom but I'm not one to be disappointed when things don't work out as I'd hoped or planned. Life has its twists and turns (especially if there are children in the equation) so I rather expect that things will not go as planned...hardly think that makes me a negative person which the word pessimist seems to imply by most of the responses from the optimists...again JMHO!

[Kay Henderson]

I can choose to be happy everyday or be miserable everyday.

Your comment reminds me of Abraham Lincoln's thoughts on the subject --"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."

Kay

[Canice]

As a pessimist (though I do think now that I am a realist after reading the responses here) I don't wallow, I don't be-moan my existence, and I don't approach a situation with gloom and doom but I'm not one to be disappointed when things don't work out as I'd hoped or planned. Life has its twists and turns (especially if there are children in the equation) so I rather expect that things will not go as planned...hardly think that makes me a negative person which the word pessimist seems to imply by most of the responses from the optimists...again JMHO!

I'm sure that the word has a range of meanings for people, to be sure, so that adds some vagueries. The Italian word "pessimo" means "worst" and to me a pessimist takes the view that the worst will come of things. I don't think being cautious or leery (or learning from experience) qualify one as pessimistic at all. To me it's about assuming the worst outcome or angle in every situation and challenge and using that as your starting point.

[JulieM]

I think I'm an optomist. If something bad happens, I always think "wow, that could have been worse!" rather than why does stuff always happen to me. And I am a foolish optimist about how long it's going to take me to get something done--always. :rolleyes: