Are you optimistic or pessimistic and why?

Question

niceguystillalone · Accepted Answer

I am a logical pessimist.

If you look at the outcome of things there are some down falls to being too much of an optimist. Being an optimist and having things go badly is a big hit because you weren't well prepared for it. Being a pessimist though you're prepare for the bad things, and thus, while it isn't great when bad things happen you are able to handle it better as you've braced for it. When you're an optimist and something great happens the impact of it isn't as high because you were expecting it. However, if you're a pessimist and something great happens it's a big positive because you weren't expecting it.

So negatives are worse and positives are less when you're an optimist. If you're a pessimist the negatives aren't as bad as you've prepared for them more, and the positives are better because you don't expect them.

Now this doesn't mean I worry myself to death about everything either. It just means I know things don't always work out and plan accordingly. I just had a rather bad day where several things didn't go very well. I wasn't expecting any of them, but when they happened I was able to laugh some of them off because I didn't have to recover from being knocked down. I could have fallen on my rear and been knocked out. Instead, I got bumped and am moving on.

Hence, it's more logical to be pessimistic than to be optimistic.

exitseven · Accepted Answer

I am mostly optimistic. I still believe that better days are ahead.

CrazyGirl2 · Accepted Answer

I tend to be pessimistic. I always hope for the best, but I expect the worst. That way if the worst actually happens, I'm not surprised because I was expecting it. however, if the worst does not happen, then not only am not surprised I'm ecstatic! Being a pessimist means I am always either ecstatic or calm because I expected it anyway. That doesn't mean I'm a miserable person. I'm actually a very happy person. For one thing, since the age of 15, I've never been disappointed. But because I work so hard to make things happen I'm usually ecstatic.

thegreenyogi · Accepted Answer

Optimistic. It's always best to go through life smiling.

Anonymous · Answer

Pessimist - a lot of it was learned (who knows what part of that comes down to genetics). Physical abuse from my father, emotional abuse from other family members - bullied throughout school, sometimes by teachers (and many who didn't directly bully... kept the mantra of "Hahahaha boys will be boys" or "girls will be girls" and did nothing); I learned a lot of things that enraged people, I learned to do what mom asks to keep her from getting angry. I learned where and when I'd get smacked or hit; and I learned not to do that stuff again or avoid that pretty quickly. I learned not to go near my dad much. I learned I'd get punished for "lying" when the adult lied about me... and when it was found out that I was telling the truth, I might have gotten a mumbled sorry from mom; never from dad. And I learned those adults rarely get confronted, or punished, even when caught in a lie. Stay out of arms length. I got shoved into enough walls and lockers. And they rarely got any real punishment. Life is far from fair. For some people, very much so.

You eat some peanuts, and you go into anaphylactic shock and your face blows up, you learn quickly to avoid peanuts.

justfantasizing · Answer

I'm pessimistic because I have CPTSD and it literally alters the synapses in your brain and prevents you from seeing positive outcomes involving yourself in your future.

It's a defense mechanism because of the disappointment that came from being really hopeful and failing or being not allowed to succeed in the past.

NathanDavis · Answer

I'm proactive about it... hope for the best, prepare for worst and expect things to balance out, eventually... one way or another

AviatorTom · Answer

I'm a realistic optimist. I always look for the good, tempered with the reality that sometimes it's not there.

noohair · Answer

If you expect to have a bad day, no matter what happens, you will have a bad day.

Nxtawm · Answer

I like to think I’m realistic but I’m probably just pessimistic lol

MemeSupreme · Answer

pessimistic bc it's all ik and was raised with  that's why in summary lol

SpeedAnswerDemon · Answer

I'm optimistic Because I know I'm smart enough to  destroy my enemies , even if it takes time

bobby_bush_eater · Answer

Optimistic internally and towards friends/family usually. Generally pessimistic on things abroad.  As always in general statements, it depends

Kayla45 · Answer

For a pacifist, I can be pretty optimistic. :)

genericname85 · Answer

pessimistic, cause it's nicer to be positively surprised than to be disappointed.

LiamJHayden · Answer

Optimistic, mainly because I do not worry about things over which I exercise no control.

OfMiceandMen · Answer

More of a glass half full kind of person.

DancingQueen16 · Answer

I try to be as optimistic as I can

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

Pessimistic

DrPepper12 · Answer

Totally contingent on situation.

Brady · Answer

Pessimistic, hav reasons 2b.

onedarkcloud · Answer

I am a realist. nuf said!

OddBeMe · Answer

Pessimistic. I hate surprises.

straightmax12 · Answer

I'm both because I observe what I see.

jahaims · Answer

Realistic

Are you optimistic or pessimistic and why?

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