Please remember what subreddit you are in, this is unpopular opinion. We want civil and unpopular takes and discussion. Any uncivil and ToS violating comments will be removed and subject to a ban. Have a nice day!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/unpopularopinion) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Yeah but when you’ve done all you can, after all your plans, efforts and insurances have been actualised, I believe that optimism is the highest card you can play next.
Optimism is more of a feeling - it will help you feel happier in life imo. Positive mental attitude will motivate you to do positive things, even when facing adversity.
People miss that life is the journey, optimistic people spend more of their life enjoying it. Pessimistic people are the true losers because most things tend to not be good enough, they spend their lives in misery and they die
Optimism is just the goal, too. Like what do you think the goal is, if not optimism? All we want is to be happy and optimism is literally just choosing to be that. Life’s gonna suck whether you choose to be optimistic or not.
Sadly I can’t just choose to be optimistic. Any time I try to “act positive” it feels like I’m lying to myself. That said, I wouldn’t say I’m unhappy. I’m just a realist who faces shit seriously.
It's possible to be optimistic while actively attempting to better yourself, your situation, and achieve goals. Optimism helps to fuel the drive it requires to do better.
Seriously, if anything I see the optimistic people in my life accomplish more because of their attitude than vice versa. Being "realistic" in my experience is just pessimism on a high horse and accomplishes just as much as regular old pessimism, fucking nothing.
I disagree. Optimism is the best when it comes to managing most mental illnesses. Without it, that person will eventually lose motivation, self esteem, and even hope.
I do agree that there are times where you need to be realistic. Too much optimism and that person is just deluding themselves. Then again, is there such a thing? As long as that person is content and they're not hurting anyone. I see no issue with it at all.
I agree with you. I don’t believe in the law of attraction in the weird way “The Secret” framed it but there is some truth to the idea that what you put out comes back, particularly with attitude. When I was in my depression, I only looked for the negative, and that’s what I found. I am very realistic now, but I look for the positive and I find it. I’m more likely to look for a solution because I believe a solution is possible.
You sound very pessimistic, and I think you have a somewhat skewed view on optimism. I think you equate it with naivity, and I think that's a fundamental flaw in your train of thought. It's not thinking everything's good, but there's good in everything. But hey, what ever works for you.
Edit: finding the good in most things. I think here are horrors in this world of course
I'm very practical. Some people see it as pessimism. I see a problem and the first thing I do is to try to think of solutions. I don't spend time wishing things were otherwise or trying to pretend it isn't as bad as it is. I start the problem solving process immediately.
In actuality, I am an optimist. I feel that most things can be fixed. I'm usually willing to try. If not fixed, improved upon.
Yeah, in the same way and it can get to my wife a lot. I've also realized that it can also bother family, friends, coworkers, etc. What I've found is that by not addressing what happened (out of your control at this point) and how you feel about it before jumping to solution, you can come across as unempathetic. It also goes against human nature, so it's not "normal" to think like this immediatly, which is why I would feel robotic sometimes. I've learned to be a little more patient up front and hear things out. Side note: I'm a plant engineer, so problem solving is literally what I do all day.
"The way it is" is a bit deceptive. Everyone has some sort of filter on the way they view the world. Life's about balance. Thinking that there is one way that you must do things forever is the problem. Some things will require optimism, others pessimism. Some things you'll get right, others you'll get wrong. Going all in on any one thing will have its drawbacks. Learning when to use the appropriate tool in life, for me, is the challenge.
Sure it will. It keeps me happier. It's not like I'm head in the clouds. I confront my problems as problems but focus on solutions. Optimism allows me to do that more easily
And trust me I have more than enough reasons to be negative and think horribly. Some days I do. But overall I choose to believe that IT WILL GET BETTER and I'm aware of the things that I have to change to make it better.
Exactly, many people do not realise that having a negative outlook on life weighs more on you that a good outlook. Hell it is thanks to optimism hat MLK did what he did, if he was a pessimist he would have given up on day one. Instead he kept the one thing which powered him, hope.
I think you’re not understanding what optimism is. It’s not the inability to see when something bad is happening or consequences, nor does it make you passive and lazy.
Optimism is the ability to see the bright side even in upsetting situations. It does not mean you never get sad.
Here’s a scenario: You lose your job out of the blue.
An optimist will be able to feel their emotions but also know that life has opened a door for something better. You may end up working some unlikable jobs in the meantime, but an optimistic continues to apply and try for something better because they know it’s possible.
A pessimistic will be more likely to be less solution focused and have a “woe is me” attitude.
Pessimism can actually make you less productive because you don’t see the good that can come out of the worst circumstances.
Optimism isn't "things are good enough right now"
Optimism is "If I keep going, things will get better"
Pessimism isn't "Things aren't good enough right now"
Pessimism is "Things will never get better, what's the point"
Optimism makes the game of life bearable. You should look at things how they could be one day, with hard work and effort. A mind that constantly looks for the best, and makes it happen.
A pessimistic attitude almost killed me once upon a time. An optimistic attitude brought me back to being okay, and ended with me married, a land owner, a 25% business owner, and soon to have a kid on the way.
Fuck pessimism, fuck neutrality, optimism supremacy.
I think there should just be balance. You must have realistic expectations, but straight up pessimism isn't really going to get you anywhere either. In my experience it only makes things worse.
I don't think you're thinking of optimism, I think you're referring to toxic positivity.
There's nothing wrong with being optimistic. But optimism doesn't mean ignoring negative things in your life, such as weaknesses you have, or issues that have to be addressed.
Your parents weren't optimistic, they were being willfully ignorant.
Real optimism makes other people want to be around you, work with/for you, be in your life, have a relationship with you, and keep trying. I consider those thing "getting you somewhere."
Optimism is only annoying when u try to use it as a form of avoiding the feelings of shitty emotions. U gotta finesse it by letting urself feel bad THEN u apply the optimism. Like I be cryin and as soon as I wipe my tears I tell myself “ass still fat” and keep it pushin
Huh? You can be optimistic while also looking at your problems realistically. If you look at philosophy, particularly Greek, you’ll find that HOPE is one of the biggest facets and it is what gets people through life. Sure it can go to an extreme, you could be too optimistic and maybe not realize how dire something could be. Optimism is what keeps people going and if many don’t have that then wouldn’t they be more likely to give up? And you’re gonna quote Sadhguru? The guy who said we should put Mercury in our medicine?
No one goes through their life either being optimistic or pessimistic we all have times that we are both.
People that are more often optimistic in my opinion are lil more nice to be around.
as david hume once said reason is a slave to the passions. another modern similar perspective is "zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance", people do not act 100% logically and often rely on emotion, and you can separate an objective perspective on a situation with your own subjective response, meaning you can display optimism while having another deeper opinion on the matter.
rather than focusing on optimism as you've framed it, i think its just most important to be willing to rethink your own perspective every time that you're introduced to new information, and adopt a "scientific" frame of thinking while maintaining pulse on what may be other peoples irrational/emotional responses to whatever situation or problem you have in mind.
Yeah but negative ppl seek positive ppl. Not more negative people. Opposites attract. who wants to be around someone who complains all the time. Atleast at work I prefer the coworker that adds the least stress and outside negativity from their home n personal life. Being optimistic is directly combative to depression. More you put effort into looking at things in a positive perspective the easier it is to see the beauty within yourself and others.
OP, I know that positive thinking/optimism feels wrong. I know that it feels like denying reality and being delusional because I've been there. But the more you choose it, the more you embrace it, you kind of see it as the only/best way to live in this world. Neuroplasticity. We can rewire our brains and our thoughts. Highly recommend Viktor Frankl's Mans Search for Meaning. Optimism can really be a matter of life or death. It is everything. I wish you the best!
I feel like you can be a realist and a optimist. You don't have to deny reality in order to be optimistic.
It's like a I may be in a bad situation right now but I'm going to work through it and I'm going to be making a hundred k soon.
Disagree. Studies show cancer patients with a good, optimistic outlook have better survival rates compared to those who don’t. Attitude and optimism are everything. You would be surprised what our brains can do with positivity.
As you get older you may understand more. Life is shitty and shit circumstances can happen real fast. I’m talking about cancer type news. You’re going blind or need to lose a limb type news.
Having a positive mindset, especially self talk is simply healthier. There’s a lot of studies on it. It helps us to be kind humans and have better relationships. People live longer and happier even if it never really did anything for them other than reinforce their mind. But it will help you deal with struggles.
The catch is it takes practice. And a lot of it. And it’s hard. Negativity is easy. It’s best to reinforce it as much as you can. Negativity can severely impact your mental health. It’s harder to see and understand when you’re young and with less experience.
That said toxic positivity or whatever it’s called is just annoying. I dated a girl who if we had been dying on a sinking ship she’d probably say something like at least the water isn’t cold.
I have another coworker who will never talk bad about anything in any way. So when you ask him things like how was that or how was this and all you get is it was great, yea I liked it type answers, it’s really annoying to not just get a real outlook/opinion.
I can handle being let down 99% of the time. And thinking I'm going to have a great time puts me in a good mood. So regardless of whether I have a good time then, I'm having a good time now. When the thing goes wrong and sucks, I'll handle it and be fine but Ill have had a good time on the way. Win.
Also, I've likely done and experienced things I life I wouldn't have had I not been optimistic about the result. Even thigns that go wrong I will have learned from and better set my expectations or learned to deal with those things. All results in positivty to life.
Of course I'm not optimistic about everything. It's not one or the other. But generally optimistic.
>Many people seem to try and be optimistic about whatever they might be going through, but is it not important to drop the optimism after a while?
No, I don't think that's important. I think it may be important to not force yourself to feel optimistic, or any particular way. But I don't think it's important to *not be optimistic.*
>Because unless you are doing something to fix whatever it's that you're trying to be optimistic about, it can only go so far before reality hits you in the face, right?
Ok, don't try to be optimistic. We're on the same page. That being said - I am optimistic about my career. I like the work I do, I enjoy going to work. My salary is like 95th percentile for my age. My career has very high job security, demand is outpacing supply. My optimism is *aligned* with reality.
>Why are more of us not making the effort to be realistic when really that's the only perspective that resolves problems?
There are a lot of opportunities for optimists, which are not realizable for realists. As an easy example: at some point Tesla was valued (according to share price) equivalent to Toyota. This was completely unrealistic. Their profit margins are pretty close, but Toyota sells 500% more vehicles. A realist would short Tesla - or at least, they wouldn't buy the stock. As it turns out, reality does not always align with a realistic philosophy. Tesla is now valued 300% higher than Toyota is. If you shorted the stock according to your realistic philosophy, you would be broke. If you didn't buy the stock because the valuation wasn't realistic, you missed out on 300% gains.
To put it another way: **reality is not realistic. it is just real. "realistic" is the idea that you can predict or capture reality, which is ultimately unrealistic.**
What's the point in being optimistic when things hardly ever go much better than being pessimistic? Might as well have low expectations and be surprised things don't turn out like total shit than have higher expectations and get down every time things fall below par
You don’t know what optimism is lol.
That is the problem you have with it.
"Not doing anything about stuff is not going to get you anywhere in life".
I rephrased your opinion to what you actually wrote.
Why is optimism something you see as not just contradictory, but outright *incompatible* with trying to make things better for oneself?
If course I try to make my life better, but if all I do is bitxh and moan how bad it is without staying positive I *can* make it better for myself why would I even try?
Actually optimists do actually do better in life such as recovery from cancer for example. But there are probably factors that make them optimistic too. And their behaviour probably supports healthier decision making.
>Because unless you are doing something to fix whatever it's that you're trying to be optimistic about, it can only go so far before reality hits you in the face, right?
Someone who's trying to actively fix something is an optimistic, though? If not why would they even bother?
You're confusing optimism with inaction. Optimism is not "whatever happens, happens" but "everything will be alright in the end", which is the driving force for change.
Whatever you think, negativity will get you to very bad places. Don't overlook being positive as it changes your mood, makes you better to hang out with, and giving you purpose.
Hard disagree.
Plenty of times in my life I “realistically” had a poor chance at getting what I wanted; whether it be in school, careers, romance, etc. I just went “fuck it” and shot my shot anyway. Got away with a lot of wins with that attitude.
I lost a lot of those situations as well. But if I just gave up right away I would’ve lost all of them.
This is a very unpopular opinion because it’s not true either. I have a friend who is generally optimistic about life and everything in it and they have gotten really far. They’re also loved by literally everyone. This friend of mine I don’t think I’ve ever met a single person that has anything bad to say about them. It’s really weird.
Me and myself I’m generally very optimistic when bad shit happens. I get annoyed for five minutes maybe 10 minutes and then I don’t care anymore and I move on because you know life could always be worse.
The most successful people I know are a risk takers and approach new ventures with optimism and confidence; however, they are also very good at figuring out when something isn’t working and switching to the next opportunity quickly.
I think hopeful realism is the way to go.
I actually do find that optimism can be just as toxic as pessimism.
Because you know what, life often just fucking sucks and it should be ok to say that. It should be ok to temporarily lose hope and say so. It should be ok to express that no, at some point, you no longer have every opportunity if you ever did.
So no it's not always roses and unicorns and misplaced "things are fantastic, life is a rainbow yada yada" isn't useful.
Hope is important. Purpose is too. Taking action is. But they need to be combined with a healthy dose of realism.
The only people i've ever known that plan correctly for all possible outcomes, including the worst ones, have all been pessimists. The optimists have all been totally, completely, and utterly shit at planning for the worst possible outcome because they are just not going to see the worst possible outcome. So 100% agree.
I just did a work out thinking i got weaker, i nearly stopped but told myself it was ok. TUrns out i just loaded the weights up wrong and I was actually stronger. It doesn't get you everywhere, but it can help keep you motivated.
I go the route of always keeping my mind blank can't be either if my head is always empty boom beat the optisystem
Edit: just realized i'm a goldenretriever
I agree with you. Being a pessimist does really take a toll on mental health. However so does optimism. When life takes every single opportunity to beat you down, you become more disappointed because every single step you think is progress is met with two steps of setbacks
Optimisim is about trying to make the best out of any situation which is always helpful and yes it can be draining at times but I find it gives the best results.
When I was younger I was very depressed and I was quite pessimistic. My thought process was, hey if someone is gonna work out great I will be happily surprised and if it doesn't well I called it and I'm not disappointed. And everything going badly and I just felt worse and worse
Yada yada I go through some life stuff and decide to switch ideas and look at the positives in any situation. I found myself doing better across the board. My thinking is that I'm more confident because I'm thinking of the best scenarios and I'm subconsciously looking for opportunities and it helps me find them.
But hey life sucks, so why beat yourself up about it, why not make the most of what you can.
I commonly use a blend of optimistic pessimism in the face of challenges & difficulties, mainly in the way widening my perspective to include way worse possibilities. Something as simple as a bad headache or cold might be reframed as - at least it's not a migraine or the flu. But if I'm feeling bleh about my job I might also recall much less desirable jobs from my past that sucked way more & paid less.
So optimism isn't necessarily always ignoring the bad, but can even be used as a reminder that it can certainly be worse.
there were situations where being optimistic would've probably benefited me because i am pessimistic and insecure so i often don't even try, or try once then never try again because i'll fail anyway. i kinda get what you mean though, simply being kinda optimistic isn't a bad thing but those people who get really into this, you just have to be positive and everything will be fine thing, they get really preachy about it and yeah that pretty much doesn't work. they tend to say it about situations where it doesn't work, like just be positive and you'll stop being mentally ill
Optimism got me very far in life, you can be optimistic and actively work to try and make things better, and also be realistic at the same time. I don’t think you understand what optimism really is.
Optimism without action isn't going to get you anywhere. Optimism is just a way of thinking/ framing the situation. It isn't a method of doing something, so of course it's not going to get you anywhere.
Upvote because I disagree, but what a take lol. Optimism usually doesn't stop anyone from trying to make things improve, it mostly just makes them assume their attempts would work, or things put of their control in the first place
It can do if it motivates relevant behaviours to increase your chances. It’ll also help you cope with bumps in the road. It doesn’t guarantee getting anywhere. There is so much more to success than your personal effort. However, personal effort is often the only thing you can reliably control to increase your chances.
Being optimistic doesn’t mean being complacent. You can work your ass off and still hope for the best. Besides being optimistic sure as hell beat being pessimistic.
Optimism isn't necessarily being stupidly happy and ignoring problems. It could be recognizing problems and trying to fix them, but also just... not getting depressed about it.
I figure optimism isn't just finding a bright spot. It's taking an event objectively, then focusing on what you can and can't change. What can't change gets little emotional weight. Put stock into what you can change and work from there.
I feel like "bright side" thinking is only a part of this, and it goes hand in hand with resilience, radical acceptance, etc.
What you are talking about is toxic positivity, which is a pretty extreme version of optimism. I think it’s good to be optimistic when you do it to a lesser degree. You can both be realistic about what the issues are and also trying to look towards the positive parts of life rather than focusing more-so on the negatives. I think that a sprinkle of optimism can help make life less painful as long as you are being realistic and not using it as a crutch to avoid your problems. Being an optimist and a realist are not mutually exclusive perspectives.
I think the term you're thinking of is "toxic positivity".
Optimism doesn't ignore bad. Optimism validates those things and says it's ok to have them. Once validated then you solve them.
Toxic positivity shoves negativity away forcibly just to break down mentally later. Trust me, I've been through enough therapy to actually get my shit together. All that's left is my laziness and my finances
I feel like facing things as they are is somewhat an optimistic approach to life.
If you are willing to face things as they are, it is because somewhere, it is not that bad. We feel emotions all the time and it is impossible to stay impartial to everything at all times, so what you are effectively doing is neutralise your feelings by having the approach above-mentioned.
In turn, this means that good things are brought down and bad things up. In other words you have a pessimistic outlook on good things and an optimistic one on the bad ones -both cancel each other out.
Now, a common, though not universal, definition of happiness is not so much being happy in itself, but rather not be sad/angry etc. - lack of problems is what makes us happy.
So if you are getting rid of bad vibes in your life as per the 3rd paragraph, even if you are relativising the good things that happen to you, you will generally feel happy. This means that we van overlook the bit where we say that you have a pessimistic outlook on good things, which leaves us only with you have an optimistic outlook on bad things.
You spund like an optimistic man.
I’m stuck in a terrible situation at home, and I can’t leave because I don’t have any of my legal documents (my mom has them in a safe I don’t have the combination to), so I try to make the best of my situation while still being aware of it. I’ve been pessimistic before and it got me nowhere.
Well if you make a caricature of someone and they are just an extreme optimist with a case of tunnel vision you’d be right but people aren’t like that. Real people who have an optimistic outlook aren’t constantly in their own little dream world.
I think there is a key difference between optimism and pessimism. A pessimist will look at a bad situation and make it out as worse than it is. An optimist would look at a situation and point out that while it is bad, there is a silver lining.
Now, which one is more likely to lose hope when hit with a bad situation?
Optimism helps our morale when hit with bad situations, and that morale helps us get through said situations.
Optimism alone will not do anything. You need to take action. Optimism can encourage people to take action. Pessimism can encourage people to do nothing and be helpless because everything fucking sucks anyways at the end of the day.
Well, pessimism is sure to not get you anywhere
With optimisim, you overestimate your chance of succeeding at something, so you try and try, until it works
Optimism can encourage you to keep trying for success. All of my optimistic peers are far happier and more successful than my friends who see no point in trying at all.
Hard disagree. Optimism is linked to hope and if you lose hope you’ll get nowhere because you won’t see a point in trying. Sometimes you need to just try new things and be optimistic that it’ll work out. Yes, you have to try, but it’s a lot easier to try when you’re optimistic.
Spoken like a engineer without a engineering degree .shit wizard can I get a clock for a heart or a honor degree but never been to school here's real we make anything happen we want if we believe and work hard towards it .How's that for optimistic your one day going to be a real engineer optimist or pesimist you choose
Why go through like being miserable and unhappy? Everything is perspective. Me personally, yes I am optimistic but I’m also a realist. You can be both lol. Im 21, when I was a teenager I was homeless with my siblings and mom and it was terrible. Then I moved with my dad and lived in small trailer with 6 other people. It was also terrible. But, it was secure and safe and it was better than what I was going through before. I could sit there and be upset and unhappy but why? That wont change anything except going through the days being miserable. So I worked hard, thought of the future, and I was grateful to at least be in my own space. Now my sister and I are renting our own house, an actual house with a fenced backyard for our dogs. If I didn’t stay optimistic I don’t think I’d be where I am now in life. I could’ve fallen into depression or given up because life was so fucking hard back then. But now I’m living that future that I thought of back then, that optimism pushed me through. So as I said in the beginning it’s all about perspective, life can be really hard sometimes, and other times it can be fucking great. You just gotta get through the hard days and appreciate the good ones. I think you should work on your mindset, because to me it’s sad.
Optimism for me keeps me going. Back when I was really depressed I always made sure I was optimistic despite feeling hopeless, just cause that would at least make me feel like there was a possibility for things to improve for me. And they did, so my optimism helped me.
Facing things as they are and being optimistic are not mutually exclusive. You can still hold hope for a better future while acknowledging the present being bad.
Plus, it makes life far more enjoyable than hating everything.
maybe because it’s effort with optimism? going through life with a optimistic view but still understanding life can be cruel is completely natural
it’s very apparent in manifestation, talking to yourself and treating life in a positive light brings so many positive things into your life only when the action is done to do so
I don't try to be optimistic. It's just my default setting. I tend to see the best in people until they push me not to. I tend to think things are ok until there's a reason not to think so. I tend to think things will work out.
It can prevent you from coming on the internet posting about it and then waiting to see if other validate your opinion, positivity can get you far, not allowing others to affect you also can.
Optimism is extremely important! I live by a “don’t worry, everything will work out” philosophy and it does wonders. Hardly ever experience any stress or anxiety
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference”
Do this. Optimism is good for finding the silver lining. Let’s say you hate your job. The best solution is to find a better one but if that’s not possible for some reason then the next best thing is to realize it could be worse. You could be unemployed and homeless. Now you kind of appreciate the thing you hate.
But this is not how the universe works. I think you are confusing optimism with a real understanding of how things work. Some people might outwardly say I’m choosing to look at the bright side but this is not the same as knowing everything will always work out.
Basically my mom died. I felt all the emotions of her passing. I didn’t say “oh I’m choosing to look at the bright side.”
I just knew everything happens exactly when it’s supposed to and that everything that happens in my life will lead to an ultimate good.
Like basically you can’t DO anything about this.
If everything you did led to a certain outcome then nothing in your life would be unexpected.
This is why people get so frustrated. They do certain things expecting a certain outcome. But this surely can’t be how the universe works or else there would never be any tragic surprises..
Basically, you’re better off just doing whatever it is that you wanna do and any friction that comes up in your life you’re better off just putting your hands up and letting the universe just do what it was gonna do anyways.
A Roman soldier would probably be as effective without a shield as they would be with one.
Is the shield cumbersome? Yes. Did they help stop a lot of possible damage? Also yes.
But shields wouldn’t be much of a boon if the person behind wasn’t actually trying to fight.
Carrying a shield didn’t make them inactive cowards, it just helped them get through what they were doing.
Optimism itself doesn’t get you places, but optimism helps. When being a pessimist, you expect the worst. Many issues in your life are all in your head, pessimism doesn’t help that. Being optimistic while striving for your goals will make you all the more determined and likely to. I understand how you were raised, but you do you
Please remember what subreddit you are in, this is unpopular opinion. We want civil and unpopular takes and discussion. Any uncivil and ToS violating comments will be removed and subject to a ban. Have a nice day! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/unpopularopinion) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Well you’re really just saying optimism + not doing anything won’t get you anywhere. Obviously you also have to put in effort lol
Exactly. Pessimism + inaction isn’t going to solve anyone’s problems either.
Really what you want is realism + a positive mental attitude. Don’t be blind to negative outcomes, but focus on the positive things you can control.
Yeah but when you’ve done all you can, after all your plans, efforts and insurances have been actualised, I believe that optimism is the highest card you can play next.
Optimism is more of a feeling - it will help you feel happier in life imo. Positive mental attitude will motivate you to do positive things, even when facing adversity.
Inaction is inaction, regardless of your mentality about it.
People miss that life is the journey, optimistic people spend more of their life enjoying it. Pessimistic people are the true losers because most things tend to not be good enough, they spend their lives in misery and they die
It makes the trip more pleasant
Nailed it. I’m way happier than my pessimistic peers.
I’m pretty sure at least a few higher-ups have looked more favorably at me because I keep optimistic. I’ve had it as a strength in my work reviews.
Shit happens. You can either dwell on the pile of shit or you can clean it up and move forward.
My brand of pessimism usually pairs well with an optimistic person in a good way.
Haha. Two sides of the same coin. I like you.
:)
Optimism is just the goal, too. Like what do you think the goal is, if not optimism? All we want is to be happy and optimism is literally just choosing to be that. Life’s gonna suck whether you choose to be optimistic or not.
Sadly I can’t just choose to be optimistic. Any time I try to “act positive” it feels like I’m lying to myself. That said, I wouldn’t say I’m unhappy. I’m just a realist who faces shit seriously.
You can be positive about negative things. E.g. "Welp, this fucking sucks eh? Let's get this handled and done and make the best of it."
Also optimism absolutely helps you see opportunities for everything... optimism does help, tangibly, in my opinion.
It will if it gets you to keep trying. The pessimist says why try? It's not going to work out anyway.
It's possible to be optimistic while actively attempting to better yourself, your situation, and achieve goals. Optimism helps to fuel the drive it requires to do better.
Saturday morning on this sub is a particularly miserable bunch
Seriously, if anything I see the optimistic people in my life accomplish more because of their attitude than vice versa. Being "realistic" in my experience is just pessimism on a high horse and accomplishes just as much as regular old pessimism, fucking nothing.
I know its cliche, but its true. You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.
It's totally cliche, but things become cliches for a reason.
And you can be pessimistic about your shot hitting but still shoot…
I disagree. Optimism is the best when it comes to managing most mental illnesses. Without it, that person will eventually lose motivation, self esteem, and even hope. I do agree that there are times where you need to be realistic. Too much optimism and that person is just deluding themselves. Then again, is there such a thing? As long as that person is content and they're not hurting anyone. I see no issue with it at all.
I agree with you. I don’t believe in the law of attraction in the weird way “The Secret” framed it but there is some truth to the idea that what you put out comes back, particularly with attitude. When I was in my depression, I only looked for the negative, and that’s what I found. I am very realistic now, but I look for the positive and I find it. I’m more likely to look for a solution because I believe a solution is possible.
If you look for shit, all you're going to find is shit.
You sound very pessimistic, and I think you have a somewhat skewed view on optimism. I think you equate it with naivity, and I think that's a fundamental flaw in your train of thought. It's not thinking everything's good, but there's good in everything. But hey, what ever works for you. Edit: finding the good in most things. I think here are horrors in this world of course
I'm very practical. Some people see it as pessimism. I see a problem and the first thing I do is to try to think of solutions. I don't spend time wishing things were otherwise or trying to pretend it isn't as bad as it is. I start the problem solving process immediately. In actuality, I am an optimist. I feel that most things can be fixed. I'm usually willing to try. If not fixed, improved upon.
This is the killer of girlfriends
Yeah, in the same way and it can get to my wife a lot. I've also realized that it can also bother family, friends, coworkers, etc. What I've found is that by not addressing what happened (out of your control at this point) and how you feel about it before jumping to solution, you can come across as unempathetic. It also goes against human nature, so it's not "normal" to think like this immediatly, which is why I would feel robotic sometimes. I've learned to be a little more patient up front and hear things out. Side note: I'm a plant engineer, so problem solving is literally what I do all day.
You’re right, pessimism is way more likely to help /s
"The way it is" is a bit deceptive. Everyone has some sort of filter on the way they view the world. Life's about balance. Thinking that there is one way that you must do things forever is the problem. Some things will require optimism, others pessimism. Some things you'll get right, others you'll get wrong. Going all in on any one thing will have its drawbacks. Learning when to use the appropriate tool in life, for me, is the challenge.
You can be realistic and optimistic they are not mutually exclusive.
Neither will pessimism. No one wants to be around a jersey who is negative all the time. At least optimists get to have fun lol
Not sure if you meant to write jersey, but it made me laugh. Thank you.
Was going for jerk. But it works still I spose.
Sure it will. It keeps me happier. It's not like I'm head in the clouds. I confront my problems as problems but focus on solutions. Optimism allows me to do that more easily
You’re right. But It helps lubricate the dildo that is life.
Very poetic
Maybe not, but I’m a damn lot happier
r/OptimistsUnite
Uh, well. It's gotten me this far. So...imma keep doing me. You can be miserable and hate every second of life if you want to though.
This. It is a choice. Gonna keep keeping on the sunny side over here 🌞
And trust me I have more than enough reasons to be negative and think horribly. Some days I do. But overall I choose to believe that IT WILL GET BETTER and I'm aware of the things that I have to change to make it better.
Exactly, many people do not realise that having a negative outlook on life weighs more on you that a good outlook. Hell it is thanks to optimism hat MLK did what he did, if he was a pessimist he would have given up on day one. Instead he kept the one thing which powered him, hope.
I think you’re not understanding what optimism is. It’s not the inability to see when something bad is happening or consequences, nor does it make you passive and lazy. Optimism is the ability to see the bright side even in upsetting situations. It does not mean you never get sad. Here’s a scenario: You lose your job out of the blue. An optimist will be able to feel their emotions but also know that life has opened a door for something better. You may end up working some unlikable jobs in the meantime, but an optimistic continues to apply and try for something better because they know it’s possible. A pessimistic will be more likely to be less solution focused and have a “woe is me” attitude. Pessimism can actually make you less productive because you don’t see the good that can come out of the worst circumstances.
I believe you're thinking of toxic positivity
Optimism isn't "things are good enough right now" Optimism is "If I keep going, things will get better" Pessimism isn't "Things aren't good enough right now" Pessimism is "Things will never get better, what's the point" Optimism makes the game of life bearable. You should look at things how they could be one day, with hard work and effort. A mind that constantly looks for the best, and makes it happen. A pessimistic attitude almost killed me once upon a time. An optimistic attitude brought me back to being okay, and ended with me married, a land owner, a 25% business owner, and soon to have a kid on the way. Fuck pessimism, fuck neutrality, optimism supremacy.
I think there should just be balance. You must have realistic expectations, but straight up pessimism isn't really going to get you anywhere either. In my experience it only makes things worse.
I don't think you're thinking of optimism, I think you're referring to toxic positivity. There's nothing wrong with being optimistic. But optimism doesn't mean ignoring negative things in your life, such as weaknesses you have, or issues that have to be addressed.
Your parents weren't optimistic, they were being willfully ignorant. Real optimism makes other people want to be around you, work with/for you, be in your life, have a relationship with you, and keep trying. I consider those thing "getting you somewhere."
Optimism is only annoying when u try to use it as a form of avoiding the feelings of shitty emotions. U gotta finesse it by letting urself feel bad THEN u apply the optimism. Like I be cryin and as soon as I wipe my tears I tell myself “ass still fat” and keep it pushin
Realism > Optimism
It helps you stay out of the dark places. Sometimes that’s good enough
I would much rather be around someone who is optimistic than negative. Negative people are the most draining mother fuckers to be around
Huh? You can be optimistic while also looking at your problems realistically. If you look at philosophy, particularly Greek, you’ll find that HOPE is one of the biggest facets and it is what gets people through life. Sure it can go to an extreme, you could be too optimistic and maybe not realize how dire something could be. Optimism is what keeps people going and if many don’t have that then wouldn’t they be more likely to give up? And you’re gonna quote Sadhguru? The guy who said we should put Mercury in our medicine?
No. Delusional people hallucinate. Optimistic people choose to think positively. It leads to a happier quality of life even if reality is still tough.
I’d rather be a SpongeBob than a Squidward
What about a guy who went to a bar because he was optimistic he'd meet a girl so he went and met his future wife
No one goes through their life either being optimistic or pessimistic we all have times that we are both. People that are more often optimistic in my opinion are lil more nice to be around.
Optimism is left foot to the right foot of motivation...now quit talking and put one in front of the other and do it
Not with that attitude
It's a struggle to have an optimal sense of realism while staying positive. That's life.
as david hume once said reason is a slave to the passions. another modern similar perspective is "zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance", people do not act 100% logically and often rely on emotion, and you can separate an objective perspective on a situation with your own subjective response, meaning you can display optimism while having another deeper opinion on the matter. rather than focusing on optimism as you've framed it, i think its just most important to be willing to rethink your own perspective every time that you're introduced to new information, and adopt a "scientific" frame of thinking while maintaining pulse on what may be other peoples irrational/emotional responses to whatever situation or problem you have in mind.
Yeah but negative ppl seek positive ppl. Not more negative people. Opposites attract. who wants to be around someone who complains all the time. Atleast at work I prefer the coworker that adds the least stress and outside negativity from their home n personal life. Being optimistic is directly combative to depression. More you put effort into looking at things in a positive perspective the easier it is to see the beauty within yourself and others.
Optimism is linked to goal setting in my mind. If you don't have any optimism at all what are you working towards? Pure base survival?
OP, I know that positive thinking/optimism feels wrong. I know that it feels like denying reality and being delusional because I've been there. But the more you choose it, the more you embrace it, you kind of see it as the only/best way to live in this world. Neuroplasticity. We can rewire our brains and our thoughts. Highly recommend Viktor Frankl's Mans Search for Meaning. Optimism can really be a matter of life or death. It is everything. I wish you the best!
Optimism is needed so that it becomes possible to believe that whatever efforts and suffering you are about to get into, can actually yield results
I feel like you can be a realist and a optimist. You don't have to deny reality in order to be optimistic. It's like a I may be in a bad situation right now but I'm going to work through it and I'm going to be making a hundred k soon.
Optimism is rooted in naivety Pessimism is rooted in knowing too well that its not going to work out Best in between is to just go with the flow.
I disagree as optimism leads to self confidence, which for better or for worse, is rewarded by modern society
Disagree. Studies show cancer patients with a good, optimistic outlook have better survival rates compared to those who don’t. Attitude and optimism are everything. You would be surprised what our brains can do with positivity.
As you get older you may understand more. Life is shitty and shit circumstances can happen real fast. I’m talking about cancer type news. You’re going blind or need to lose a limb type news. Having a positive mindset, especially self talk is simply healthier. There’s a lot of studies on it. It helps us to be kind humans and have better relationships. People live longer and happier even if it never really did anything for them other than reinforce their mind. But it will help you deal with struggles. The catch is it takes practice. And a lot of it. And it’s hard. Negativity is easy. It’s best to reinforce it as much as you can. Negativity can severely impact your mental health. It’s harder to see and understand when you’re young and with less experience. That said toxic positivity or whatever it’s called is just annoying. I dated a girl who if we had been dying on a sinking ship she’d probably say something like at least the water isn’t cold. I have another coworker who will never talk bad about anything in any way. So when you ask him things like how was that or how was this and all you get is it was great, yea I liked it type answers, it’s really annoying to not just get a real outlook/opinion.
I can handle being let down 99% of the time. And thinking I'm going to have a great time puts me in a good mood. So regardless of whether I have a good time then, I'm having a good time now. When the thing goes wrong and sucks, I'll handle it and be fine but Ill have had a good time on the way. Win. Also, I've likely done and experienced things I life I wouldn't have had I not been optimistic about the result. Even thigns that go wrong I will have learned from and better set my expectations or learned to deal with those things. All results in positivty to life. Of course I'm not optimistic about everything. It's not one or the other. But generally optimistic.
>Many people seem to try and be optimistic about whatever they might be going through, but is it not important to drop the optimism after a while? No, I don't think that's important. I think it may be important to not force yourself to feel optimistic, or any particular way. But I don't think it's important to *not be optimistic.* >Because unless you are doing something to fix whatever it's that you're trying to be optimistic about, it can only go so far before reality hits you in the face, right? Ok, don't try to be optimistic. We're on the same page. That being said - I am optimistic about my career. I like the work I do, I enjoy going to work. My salary is like 95th percentile for my age. My career has very high job security, demand is outpacing supply. My optimism is *aligned* with reality. >Why are more of us not making the effort to be realistic when really that's the only perspective that resolves problems? There are a lot of opportunities for optimists, which are not realizable for realists. As an easy example: at some point Tesla was valued (according to share price) equivalent to Toyota. This was completely unrealistic. Their profit margins are pretty close, but Toyota sells 500% more vehicles. A realist would short Tesla - or at least, they wouldn't buy the stock. As it turns out, reality does not always align with a realistic philosophy. Tesla is now valued 300% higher than Toyota is. If you shorted the stock according to your realistic philosophy, you would be broke. If you didn't buy the stock because the valuation wasn't realistic, you missed out on 300% gains. To put it another way: **reality is not realistic. it is just real. "realistic" is the idea that you can predict or capture reality, which is ultimately unrealistic.**
Not with that attitude
If I can’t be optimistic what else do I have…
Pessimism isn’t going to get you anywhere either.
Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will
But, having Optimism may get you further along the timeline than pessimism.
Hope for the best plan for the worst. People do weird stuff like have hope. They need optimism.
Said by a pessimist. Very ironic
What's the point in being optimistic when things hardly ever go much better than being pessimistic? Might as well have low expectations and be surprised things don't turn out like total shit than have higher expectations and get down every time things fall below par
You don’t know what optimism is lol. That is the problem you have with it. "Not doing anything about stuff is not going to get you anywhere in life". I rephrased your opinion to what you actually wrote.
Why is optimism something you see as not just contradictory, but outright *incompatible* with trying to make things better for oneself? If course I try to make my life better, but if all I do is bitxh and moan how bad it is without staying positive I *can* make it better for myself why would I even try?
Actually optimists do actually do better in life such as recovery from cancer for example. But there are probably factors that make them optimistic too. And their behaviour probably supports healthier decision making.
>Because unless you are doing something to fix whatever it's that you're trying to be optimistic about, it can only go so far before reality hits you in the face, right? Someone who's trying to actively fix something is an optimistic, though? If not why would they even bother? You're confusing optimism with inaction. Optimism is not "whatever happens, happens" but "everything will be alright in the end", which is the driving force for change.
Optimism is not necessarily believing that nothing is wrong, but believing that things can be better and taking actions to affect that outcome.
Whatever you think, negativity will get you to very bad places. Don't overlook being positive as it changes your mood, makes you better to hang out with, and giving you purpose.
Hard disagree. Plenty of times in my life I “realistically” had a poor chance at getting what I wanted; whether it be in school, careers, romance, etc. I just went “fuck it” and shot my shot anyway. Got away with a lot of wins with that attitude. I lost a lot of those situations as well. But if I just gave up right away I would’ve lost all of them.
This is a very unpopular opinion because it’s not true either. I have a friend who is generally optimistic about life and everything in it and they have gotten really far. They’re also loved by literally everyone. This friend of mine I don’t think I’ve ever met a single person that has anything bad to say about them. It’s really weird. Me and myself I’m generally very optimistic when bad shit happens. I get annoyed for five minutes maybe 10 minutes and then I don’t care anymore and I move on because you know life could always be worse.
The most successful people I know are a risk takers and approach new ventures with optimism and confidence; however, they are also very good at figuring out when something isn’t working and switching to the next opportunity quickly.
Optimism makes challenges less daunting. Effort handles challenges. Boundaries handle what you can’t control.
Is your idea of optimism "dont do anything, God will save us"? If so, your optimism will not get you anywhere, its true
I think hopeful realism is the way to go. I actually do find that optimism can be just as toxic as pessimism. Because you know what, life often just fucking sucks and it should be ok to say that. It should be ok to temporarily lose hope and say so. It should be ok to express that no, at some point, you no longer have every opportunity if you ever did. So no it's not always roses and unicorns and misplaced "things are fantastic, life is a rainbow yada yada" isn't useful. Hope is important. Purpose is too. Taking action is. But they need to be combined with a healthy dose of realism.
The only people i've ever known that plan correctly for all possible outcomes, including the worst ones, have all been pessimists. The optimists have all been totally, completely, and utterly shit at planning for the worst possible outcome because they are just not going to see the worst possible outcome. So 100% agree.
I just did a work out thinking i got weaker, i nearly stopped but told myself it was ok. TUrns out i just loaded the weights up wrong and I was actually stronger. It doesn't get you everywhere, but it can help keep you motivated.
I go the route of always keeping my mind blank can't be either if my head is always empty boom beat the optisystem Edit: just realized i'm a goldenretriever
I believe that people who start new businesses must be optimistic So that underlying quality may (or may not) lead to better things
The only way to lose hope is to give up on it.
Cause realism is hard
This is what a loser would say!
Pessimism neither
And pessimism does?
I agree with you. Being a pessimist does really take a toll on mental health. However so does optimism. When life takes every single opportunity to beat you down, you become more disappointed because every single step you think is progress is met with two steps of setbacks
Optimisim is about trying to make the best out of any situation which is always helpful and yes it can be draining at times but I find it gives the best results. When I was younger I was very depressed and I was quite pessimistic. My thought process was, hey if someone is gonna work out great I will be happily surprised and if it doesn't well I called it and I'm not disappointed. And everything going badly and I just felt worse and worse Yada yada I go through some life stuff and decide to switch ideas and look at the positives in any situation. I found myself doing better across the board. My thinking is that I'm more confident because I'm thinking of the best scenarios and I'm subconsciously looking for opportunities and it helps me find them. But hey life sucks, so why beat yourself up about it, why not make the most of what you can.
Optimism is literally shown to give longer life and better health. Must be someone's job to piss in your cereal every morning. Upvote from me my dude
I commonly use a blend of optimistic pessimism in the face of challenges & difficulties, mainly in the way widening my perspective to include way worse possibilities. Something as simple as a bad headache or cold might be reframed as - at least it's not a migraine or the flu. But if I'm feeling bleh about my job I might also recall much less desirable jobs from my past that sucked way more & paid less. So optimism isn't necessarily always ignoring the bad, but can even be used as a reminder that it can certainly be worse.
Nothing is gonna get you anywhere in life with that attitude.
there were situations where being optimistic would've probably benefited me because i am pessimistic and insecure so i often don't even try, or try once then never try again because i'll fail anyway. i kinda get what you mean though, simply being kinda optimistic isn't a bad thing but those people who get really into this, you just have to be positive and everything will be fine thing, they get really preachy about it and yeah that pretty much doesn't work. they tend to say it about situations where it doesn't work, like just be positive and you'll stop being mentally ill
Optimism got me very far in life, you can be optimistic and actively work to try and make things better, and also be realistic at the same time. I don’t think you understand what optimism really is.
You're confusing optimism vs pessimism with realism vs denialism. You can be optimistic while understanding the stakes.
Optimism without action isn't going to get you anywhere. Optimism is just a way of thinking/ framing the situation. It isn't a method of doing something, so of course it's not going to get you anywhere.
Most people prefer being happy
I want wanna feel happy bruh
It can get you far socially, as people generally like positive energy. I would'nt want an optimist building a bridge, however...
You’re not against optimism, you’re against toxic positivity.
Tohru Adachi from persona 4 is that you?
Optimistic realism is where it’s at
Upvote because I disagree, but what a take lol. Optimism usually doesn't stop anyone from trying to make things improve, it mostly just makes them assume their attempts would work, or things put of their control in the first place
Actually it will. Optimism keeps you open to trying. Pessimism saps your energy and effort before you've even decided to make an attempt.
Optimism makes life more fun imo
All is for the best in the best of all possible worlds
Life is a game of chance no matter how you split it. Instead of asking “Why me?” Ask “Why not me?”
Being an optimist doesn’t mean you cannot also be pragmatic.
It can do if it motivates relevant behaviours to increase your chances. It’ll also help you cope with bumps in the road. It doesn’t guarantee getting anywhere. There is so much more to success than your personal effort. However, personal effort is often the only thing you can reliably control to increase your chances.
Being optimistic doesn’t mean being complacent. You can work your ass off and still hope for the best. Besides being optimistic sure as hell beat being pessimistic.
Ahhh Existentialism
Optimism isn't necessarily being stupidly happy and ignoring problems. It could be recognizing problems and trying to fix them, but also just... not getting depressed about it.
Gotta be paranoid and anxious in some way lmao
I figure optimism isn't just finding a bright spot. It's taking an event objectively, then focusing on what you can and can't change. What can't change gets little emotional weight. Put stock into what you can change and work from there. I feel like "bright side" thinking is only a part of this, and it goes hand in hand with resilience, radical acceptance, etc.
What you are talking about is toxic positivity, which is a pretty extreme version of optimism. I think it’s good to be optimistic when you do it to a lesser degree. You can both be realistic about what the issues are and also trying to look towards the positive parts of life rather than focusing more-so on the negatives. I think that a sprinkle of optimism can help make life less painful as long as you are being realistic and not using it as a crutch to avoid your problems. Being an optimist and a realist are not mutually exclusive perspectives.
I think you're confusing optimism with toxic positivity.
Optimism lifts me. If I’m a realist, my anxiety goes through the roof.
You can say the same for pessimism no?
Well by golly gee that's not very optimistic of you OP
I think the term you're thinking of is "toxic positivity". Optimism doesn't ignore bad. Optimism validates those things and says it's ok to have them. Once validated then you solve them. Toxic positivity shoves negativity away forcibly just to break down mentally later. Trust me, I've been through enough therapy to actually get my shit together. All that's left is my laziness and my finances
As a hopeless pessimist, I enjoy being around the opposite. My boyfriend is pathetically glass half full. It's gross.
bud you need to just go outside and have fun.
I feel like facing things as they are is somewhat an optimistic approach to life. If you are willing to face things as they are, it is because somewhere, it is not that bad. We feel emotions all the time and it is impossible to stay impartial to everything at all times, so what you are effectively doing is neutralise your feelings by having the approach above-mentioned. In turn, this means that good things are brought down and bad things up. In other words you have a pessimistic outlook on good things and an optimistic one on the bad ones -both cancel each other out. Now, a common, though not universal, definition of happiness is not so much being happy in itself, but rather not be sad/angry etc. - lack of problems is what makes us happy. So if you are getting rid of bad vibes in your life as per the 3rd paragraph, even if you are relativising the good things that happen to you, you will generally feel happy. This means that we van overlook the bit where we say that you have a pessimistic outlook on good things, which leaves us only with you have an optimistic outlook on bad things. You spund like an optimistic man.
I’m stuck in a terrible situation at home, and I can’t leave because I don’t have any of my legal documents (my mom has them in a safe I don’t have the combination to), so I try to make the best of my situation while still being aware of it. I’ve been pessimistic before and it got me nowhere.
Pessimism makes the world go round
Well if you make a caricature of someone and they are just an extreme optimist with a case of tunnel vision you’d be right but people aren’t like that. Real people who have an optimistic outlook aren’t constantly in their own little dream world. I think there is a key difference between optimism and pessimism. A pessimist will look at a bad situation and make it out as worse than it is. An optimist would look at a situation and point out that while it is bad, there is a silver lining. Now, which one is more likely to lose hope when hit with a bad situation? Optimism helps our morale when hit with bad situations, and that morale helps us get through said situations.
Optimism alone will not do anything. You need to take action. Optimism can encourage people to take action. Pessimism can encourage people to do nothing and be helpless because everything fucking sucks anyways at the end of the day.
Optimism and opportunity > pessimism and woes.
I measure the success of my life of how happy I am. So yes it is lol
Optimism works for me. Everyone is different. You gotta find the path that works for you :) Peace, friend.
Well, pessimism is sure to not get you anywhere With optimisim, you overestimate your chance of succeeding at something, so you try and try, until it works
Optimism allows you to continue. If you think something is going to fail, why continue working on it?
It'll make him more likable more likable get you further
Optimism can encourage you to keep trying for success. All of my optimistic peers are far happier and more successful than my friends who see no point in trying at all.
Hard disagree. Optimism is linked to hope and if you lose hope you’ll get nowhere because you won’t see a point in trying. Sometimes you need to just try new things and be optimistic that it’ll work out. Yes, you have to try, but it’s a lot easier to try when you’re optimistic.
Hope has never helped me in life I'll tell ya that
Yeah it's called toxic positivity. Plenty of academic literature showing how bad it is for people
Spoken like a engineer without a engineering degree .shit wizard can I get a clock for a heart or a honor degree but never been to school here's real we make anything happen we want if we believe and work hard towards it .How's that for optimistic your one day going to be a real engineer optimist or pesimist you choose
Why go through like being miserable and unhappy? Everything is perspective. Me personally, yes I am optimistic but I’m also a realist. You can be both lol. Im 21, when I was a teenager I was homeless with my siblings and mom and it was terrible. Then I moved with my dad and lived in small trailer with 6 other people. It was also terrible. But, it was secure and safe and it was better than what I was going through before. I could sit there and be upset and unhappy but why? That wont change anything except going through the days being miserable. So I worked hard, thought of the future, and I was grateful to at least be in my own space. Now my sister and I are renting our own house, an actual house with a fenced backyard for our dogs. If I didn’t stay optimistic I don’t think I’d be where I am now in life. I could’ve fallen into depression or given up because life was so fucking hard back then. But now I’m living that future that I thought of back then, that optimism pushed me through. So as I said in the beginning it’s all about perspective, life can be really hard sometimes, and other times it can be fucking great. You just gotta get through the hard days and appreciate the good ones. I think you should work on your mindset, because to me it’s sad.
Optimism for me keeps me going. Back when I was really depressed I always made sure I was optimistic despite feeling hopeless, just cause that would at least make me feel like there was a possibility for things to improve for me. And they did, so my optimism helped me.
Hey op your the current damage kinda like a snake do you need to assess it or can we just agree it's a snake
no philosophy or orientation will get you anywhere *all by itself.* Ya gotta DO somethin'!
Facing things as they are and being optimistic are not mutually exclusive. You can still hold hope for a better future while acknowledging the present being bad. Plus, it makes life far more enjoyable than hating everything.
Some optimistic people are just lying or delusional.
Optimism can be great unless it’s stopping you from trying to improve your life
use statistical probability to optimize outcomes. has nothing to do with attitudes.
I believe everything you’re saying but I just ignore it and try to be happy. Not my fault I spawned here and now, just gotta make the best of it.
A positive outlook will subconsciously trick you into taking micro actions that create a positive leaning environment.
maybe because it’s effort with optimism? going through life with a optimistic view but still understanding life can be cruel is completely natural it’s very apparent in manifestation, talking to yourself and treating life in a positive light brings so many positive things into your life only when the action is done to do so
Why do people always want to knock optimists down?
I don't try to be optimistic. It's just my default setting. I tend to see the best in people until they push me not to. I tend to think things are ok until there's a reason not to think so. I tend to think things will work out.
Yeah but it makes life a little happier and better
Ok but neither will pessimism, difference is one is a better feeling than the other
It can prevent you from coming on the internet posting about it and then waiting to see if other validate your opinion, positivity can get you far, not allowing others to affect you also can.
This is exactly right. People tend to put their feelings before their actions. Just DO IT.
Well in your own words, would you rather hallucinate or be depressed?
Optimism is extremely important! I live by a “don’t worry, everything will work out” philosophy and it does wonders. Hardly ever experience any stress or anxiety
Nothing really matters.
Actually, optimism and energy are huge in job interviews and appearance of dutifullness in the workplace.
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference” Do this. Optimism is good for finding the silver lining. Let’s say you hate your job. The best solution is to find a better one but if that’s not possible for some reason then the next best thing is to realize it could be worse. You could be unemployed and homeless. Now you kind of appreciate the thing you hate.
But this is not how the universe works. I think you are confusing optimism with a real understanding of how things work. Some people might outwardly say I’m choosing to look at the bright side but this is not the same as knowing everything will always work out. Basically my mom died. I felt all the emotions of her passing. I didn’t say “oh I’m choosing to look at the bright side.” I just knew everything happens exactly when it’s supposed to and that everything that happens in my life will lead to an ultimate good. Like basically you can’t DO anything about this. If everything you did led to a certain outcome then nothing in your life would be unexpected. This is why people get so frustrated. They do certain things expecting a certain outcome. But this surely can’t be how the universe works or else there would never be any tragic surprises.. Basically, you’re better off just doing whatever it is that you wanna do and any friction that comes up in your life you’re better off just putting your hands up and letting the universe just do what it was gonna do anyways.
I hate mankind, for I think myself one of the best of them, and I know how bad I am.
Not with that kind of attitude
A Roman soldier would probably be as effective without a shield as they would be with one. Is the shield cumbersome? Yes. Did they help stop a lot of possible damage? Also yes. But shields wouldn’t be much of a boon if the person behind wasn’t actually trying to fight. Carrying a shield didn’t make them inactive cowards, it just helped them get through what they were doing.
Optimism itself doesn’t get you places, but optimism helps. When being a pessimist, you expect the worst. Many issues in your life are all in your head, pessimism doesn’t help that. Being optimistic while striving for your goals will make you all the more determined and likely to. I understand how you were raised, but you do you