Optimist, Pessimist or Realist?
By taraelocin
@taraelocin (1138)
October 25, 2009 12:22pm CST
When I was a teenager I was extremely optimistic. I just couldn't look at dark clouds without keeping my eyes open for a rainbow or a ray of sunshine.
Early in my 20s I had a bit of a hard time with boyfriends who didn't know what honesty meant and jobs that didnt' work out. I suddenly always looked at what can go wrong to avoid disappointment when it happens.
Now I would call myself a realist. Life can be hard and it can be absolutely great. As long as you are realistic there is no need to jump high in the air just to fall back into a deep hole, so that's the philosophy I apply.
Where would you see yourself? Optimist, pessimist or realist?
4 responses
@ilyzium (1197)
• Canada
25 Oct 09
Hello,
I would definitely say that I'm an optimist/realist now, more than a pessimist. When I was younger and surrounded by the negative influence of my mother, I would definitely say that I was a pessimist back then. I can tell you it's really DRAINING being a pessimist because it just saps the energy out of you. I have one friend of mine who's so pessimistic, spazzes out about everything in your life,and continuously keeps getting cancers back and forth! It's a complete mind/body thing because she's been told to change her attitude and reduce her stress but she can't. I've sort of stopped hanging out with this person, because she's so pessimistic that it drains all life out of me when I see her. I admit I do feel guilty because she doesn't have any friends but I'm thinking more for my sanity! Also what you think of really becomes your reality and when you're negative all the time it's hard to snap out of it. Yeah it's funny because when I was a teenager I was also really optimistic and had almost these really lofty ambitions.
@Archie0 (5636)
•
26 Oct 09
I want to believe that there's room to be optimistic, but in actuality you'll just get your heart broken.
I am a realist. I try to find the good in things, and not concentrate on the negativity. When you do that, all you do is drag yourself and others down. Why put yourself through that?
Nah, realism is the only logical choice... For me, anyway.
Lol.. I just read my response, and it sounds more optimistic than anything lmao... It's whatever. I know how things are, and they're not always good, but they're not always bad. I view EVERYTHING for what it is. Realism.. so there..
@taraelocin (1138)
•
26 Oct 09
Being surrounded by negative people can certainly bring you down. Good on you that you look on the positive side of things now.
@jesssp (2712)
• Canada
26 Oct 09
I consider myself more realistic than anything but I think I sometimes lean towards being a pessimist. I always look at things thinking about what is going to happen if it does work out and if it doesn't. I always consider every end of the spectrum and I never bank on things just unconditionally going the right way. I look at things as they are and make decisions based on that, I don't just assume that everything is going to be great because I want it so badly or because the optimistic picture is a prettier one. I think I sometimes miss out on opportunities because of that way of thinking but for the most part it has served me very well, I'm a happy person with a great life (just with a half empty cup)!
@taraelocin (1138)
•
27 Oct 09
It can make dissapointments easier if you expect the worst to happen. But on the other side - as you say - you might miss out on good things when you don't look out for the little rays of sunshine.
@glistar (127)
• United States
25 Oct 09
Like most kids, I was an optimist, but by the time I entered middle school I lost a lot of it. Growing up is tough and by the time I was in high school I think I was more of pessimist than anything else. Being a teenager full angst was HARD. Now that I am in college, I'm think I'm a mix of a pessimist and realist. I think I'm that way because I set the bar a bit lower so when things end up well, it's extra special.
@taraelocin (1138)
•
26 Oct 09
You're right - it probably has a lot to do with age. We learn that things aren't always great and stop expecting the perfect world.
@Nestonlady (132)
•
25 Oct 09
I think of myself as a pessimistic optimist. I may think the worst but I hope for the best.
@taraelocin (1138)
•
26 Oct 09
I'm curious - does it make it easier for you when things go wrong when you expected that?
