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Quote of the Day
Were it not for the shepherds, there would have been no reception. And were it not for a group of stargazers, there would have been no gifts.
-TiMax Lucado, 'God Came Near'-
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Meet the Story-Teller Fairy
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| Optimism Vs. Pessimism |
| Saturday, February 17, 2007 |
Author: Nick Schultz
Some people see the glass as half empty. Others see it as half full. But is it really as simple as that? Is it possible to be a bit of both? What are the advantages and disadvantages to both? Maybe there is more to both mind-sets.
When you think about it, most people tend to be an optimist sometimes and a pessimist other times. Ironically, a lot of times things turn out how the people tend to feel about them. If a person feels like something will go well or feels optimistic about it, it usually seems to go well. The same is true of the reverse. When someone feels like something will go badly, it tends to do just that.
So why is this?
Henry Ford once said, "If you think you can, or you think you can't, you are right!" Does this mean that what we think about, whether positive or negative, tends to happen? The only answer that I can really give to that is yes, but very basically. We cannot simply think things into existence, no matter how optimistic we are, if that is all we do. And when it comes down to it, that's not really optimism, but delusion.
But then is there any real difference between pessimism and optimism if, when it comes down to it, the results aren't any different? The short answer is yes, with an added but.
Pessimism will tend to lead to bad outcomes, whether it is because you just think things will turn out poorly and thus do not take any action, or because the pessimism will color your actions and choices and as a result you tend to do things that will make the result what you expected, the bad outcome.
Now where the but comes in with optimism is that the mere act of thinking either optimistically or pessimistically will for the most part produce not much difference in outcome, with perhaps a slight edge to the optimist. However, when you add positive, productive action to that optimism, this is when truly amazing things can happen. You can be as optimistic as you want that you will find a way to get the money for that new car or new house, but unless you are including the productive action that helps to push things to that end, you will never get there. The difference between only thinking optimistically and thinking optimistically while acting in a productive manner is kind of like saying to an empty fireplace "Give me warmth and then I will put some wood in you".
I once knew a woman who always said, "I would rather expect the worst and be pleasantly surprised on the rare occasion when good happens than be disappointed all the time". This pessimistic attitude of hers has brought her nothing but misery and strife, and yet she still thinks it has nothing to do with her. She does not realize that her pessimism is coloring her entire life and making the bad things she expects to happen actually happen. My response to her was always, "I would much prefer to expect the best and enjoy what life gives me than to constantly worry about how bad things are." For a long time, we had the same results. Then I realized that I needed to do my part and put positive, productive action behind my thoughts. And while I am not where I want to be yet, I have moved much closer to it and have been much happier along the way.
So I would say to you: be optimistic! Expect the best out of life! Expecting the best out of life is better than being miserably pessimistic. Above all though my optimistic friend, don't forget to do your part to not just think but also act optimistically.
Found at ArticlesBase.com
About the Author:
Nick Schultz has studied motivation and personal development for over a decade and firmly believes in the philosophy of "You can get anything you want, by helping enough other people to get what they want." He runs a free site at http://www.wealthtreeseeds.com which features daily inspirational quotes and is working to include free courses on a variety of financial and personal development subjects for his subscribers. |
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posted by Ladybird @ 10:39 AM   |
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| 22 Comments: |
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I also heard the quote "the good die young" Sometimes those nasty pestimistic people live forever, but then again if living longer and being miserable is the alternative to viewing the glass half full. I would rather see the beauty in all of life for a short time then live forever and never see it at all.
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I suspect that especially you, you can see the beauty in all of life for longer than a short time.
Your blog warmed my heart.
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Hi I never realized you were in Greece before...
What you say about Anna Nicole & prescriptions ... well I am glad they actually are tracking the dodgy doctor down. For ONCE!!
Sorry if what I write comes out a bit strong. But I cannot compromise, do you see? I compromise too much in life. Cannot do it on my blog as well.
Many thanks for your comment. It was most kind of you to drop by.
All the best now
Gledwood
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I always thought that being an optimist or a pessimist wasn't so much of a choice as just the way a person was. You know, much like some people are born right handed, and some people are born left-handed. I find usually that if I set my expectations lower in a given situation, I'm usually (not always, but usually) pleasantly surprised. Pessimism isn't such a horrible way of life if you temper it correctly.
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@gledwood
What can I say about prescriptions for drugs, it's the same all over the world when you're rich.
Don't you ever compromise! No matter how much it costs you...
I try hard not to compromise in my life, although I keep a rather too conventional blog.
And honestly, I like your shocking way of writing.
Take care and keep in touch.
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@megan
I think u have a point here.
Still, isn't it much easier to be right-handed in a right-handed world?
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I tend to think that someone overcapacitied the glass needs assessment
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Is it a productive effort trying to be an optimist, if your soul is just a pesimistic bastard? my thing is: if you actually are as smart enough to make your actions productive, it doesn't matter what's your point of view...some people like being miserable, even if they have beautiful lives...and some others like to have happy thoughts and feelings, when life proves they are bad luck claimers....so what?
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Well thank you ;) How are things in Greece?
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In Greece? The usual chaos. We're just waiting for the summer, when we can go to the islands and have some REAL fun.
How are things in L.A.?
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I think that the issue of optimism versus pessimism is one of degree.
I think both ends of the spectrum, excessively optimistic and excessively pessimistic (relative to the culture they live in) tend to have the lowest quality of life, perhaps because their delusions make it difficult to take productive action.
Although there can be argument made that the most deluded optimists can never realize the depths to which their quality of life has sunk, and therefore, live the best lives.
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Yo yo yo! Nice blog. Not that my opinion is ever taken seriously. I am an evil vacuum afterall...
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interesting blog! I mentioned you on my blog today.. take care:)
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I have read this one..it is long drawn debate scheduled over centuries!
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Hi,
How are you?
I just added your link to my blog,
Cheers,
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hey, thanks!
I did the same with your link, as you've probably already seen.
c u!
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@ everyone
pls check out East of Oregon's blog. It's lovely!
And many thanks my friend for mentioning me there!
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thanks for the thought - it's true - we should cherish what we have and appreciate the good things in life...here's to optimism!
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Thanks for a wonderful blog. Just found this, and there is so much to read.
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I also heard the quote "the good die young" Sometimes those nasty pestimistic people live forever, but then again if living longer and being miserable is the alternative to viewing the glass half full. I would rather see the beauty in all of life for a short time then live forever and never see it at all.