Optimistic or Realistic?

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”—Sir Winston Churchill

Optimist = one who usually expects a favorable outcome; a believer in philosophical optimism.

Realist = a person who tends to view or represent things as they really are.

Is it possible that someone can be too optimistic? I am struggling with this because I believe I am a true optimist, but my husband says that I’m not enough of a realist and that I need to see more things in reality and not how I want to see things or how I believe things to be. How do you know if you’re being too optimistic? I believe that “everything happens for a reason,” so why not be optimistic about life and how things turn out? It’s better than being miserable and expecting bad things to happen. “Misery loves company,” and I believe that like attracts like, so why not expect good things to happen so that good things will happen!

That’s the way I see it. I see the glass half full rather than half empty. I believe that too many people out there are pessimistic and it makes them miserable! I smile at everyone I see because I believe that smiles are contagious and everyone likes to be smiled at, even if they don’t admit it. Yes, bad things do happen in life ... but that’s a part of life. It’s how we deal with those bad things that gets us through them or not. If everyone was just a little more optimistic, then the world would be such a happier place!

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”

3 readers liked this story.
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04.07.2010
Megan Driver
While I agree that most people tend to be more pessimistic, there is being too optimistic. I myself am a realist while I know that good things will come, so will the bad. I wouldn't put my head in the sand and ignore anything bad that comes my way just cause I don't like it. Unlike most people the glass is neither half full or half empty, its just a glass either way you look at it, its still competently full with both water and air. Life is full of ups and downs no matter what your view point is they will come, just like water and air they come and go. If someone just keeps ignoring all the bad things in life and looking more at the "brighter side" how will they learn and grow, as humans we learn from our bad stuff. I know a guy that all he see are good and he hasn't mentally made past the age of 15, he won't grow from there he won't learn from anything bad because he won't let himself see the bad.
01.29.2009
Elizabeth Park
Carrie, You sound like a very upbeat woman. I admire that as I belive I may be suffering from the opposite. I tend to be a realist, however, I wonder if it's really that I'm a pessamist. Of course, pessamisim is a bad word to most people - you never strive to be a pessimist. I always tag my opinions or responses with "I'm being realistic". Am I a killer of wonderful ideas? Do I squash hope by uttering my "realistic" opinions? I think you are lucky. Of course, the grass is always greener and you may wonder why your optimism triggers knee-jerk reactions in some people...but that reaction, I belive, is out of envy. I would bet that you stress less than the realists of the world and you sleep better too. Great article - it got me thinking enough to write and that's what it's all about!
It feels good to write.

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