Language of the Day: Optimism vs. Pessimism
Of course, people are much more complex than simply being optimistic or pessimistic! Most of us fluctuate between the two and can have differing or opposing beliefs and feelings at the same time.
Sometimes we may be feeling more optimistic or hopeful and other times we may be feeling pessimistic and cynical, or more likely, somewhere between the two extremes.
Other points of view, in addition to being optimistic or pessimistic, include being realistic or idealistic.
A lot of young people tend to have some idealistic beliefs because they may have not dealt with the harsh realities of life and imagine that life will always be perfect. Movies and fairy tales also influence this belief!
A realistic person sees reality as it is. Acceptance is a big part of this. While an idealistic person may see the glass of water and believe that it will always be available and abundant, a realistic person sees one glass that is currently both half full of water and half empty.
Is the glass half empty or half full?
This question is a well-known phrase that refers to the idea of how our mindset can affect our perception. The glass of water is the same, but people can have different feelings and opinions about it.
An optimistic person will tend to look at the bright side and will be grateful for what they have; in this case, that there is at least some water in the glass.
Although we can’t be optimistic all the time, it can be useful to have a positive outlook before a job interview or exam because it can improve self-confidence and keep us focused on achieving our goals.
However, a pessimistic person will look at the glass of water and see what is lacking. By focusing on the negative space of the glass, they might see lost potential or something to be worried about.
A lot of us may lean towards being pessimistic in order to protect ourselves from getting hurt or to prepare ourselves for the worst so that we will not be disappointed.
