Glass half full or half empty?

[NP]

I’m definitely a pessimist and assume the worst will happen in any situation, but I’m very good at outwardly appearing optimistic so as not to bring everyone else down with me

 

[Apple In My Pie]

I’m a pessimist because every time I have ever been optimistic about something it has gone to shit! So blind optimism just isn’t something I can believe in. I wouldn’t say I am a massive misery guts to everyone though. I keep my pessimism to myself

 

[Mulholland Drive]

I understand the reasoning of being a pessimist because if something bad happens you kind of expect it; and if something good happens its a bonus.

 

[watermelon sugar]

I change day to day. Sometimes I can be super positive then the next I can be super negative. Sometimes I'm... neither? I feel like im neither today

 

[birdiefly246]

I'm sort of weirdly both. So I have anxiety so my brain naturally thinks worse case scenario but I am a positive person overall and do always find the bright side. It's very weird cause I have anxiety but I also have nerves of steel. So I'll be crazy anxious but dive head first into it anyway. I always say it's like I have 2 different people living in me

I would say I'm positive. I do get stressed but I can calm myself quickly and find joy in small moments. I'm a bit like a dog. I just get excited about everything but I had depression for years so I think that's why I now get happy about small things.

 

[Loulou_23]

I’m a pessimist purely because like others have said when I’ve allowed myself to think positive about a situation the worst has happened. So now I think if I expect the worst then anything else is a positive

That’s just in my head though I try not to put that out to other people I’m more of a ‘we’ll see’ or ‘take it as it comes’ during conversations with family / friends.

 

[Mulholland Drive]

Was going to basically post this word for word. Been burnt to many times by optimism

I am optimistic that the final vote on this thread will favour optimists

 

[birdiefly246]

There's always one!

Ok ok I'll pick a side, although I don't like to... I'll go with optimist. I just love a grey area me

 

[Bitofthebubbly]

I’m a pessimist because every time I have ever been optimistic about something it has gone to shit! So blind optimism just isn’t something I can believe in. I wouldn’t say I am a massive misery guts to everyone though. I keep my pessimism to myself

Was going to basically post this word for word. Been burnt to many times by optimism

 

[JLXRD]

I just think I would struggle to get through the day if I didn’t try and assume things will generally be okay I guess.

I think I use optimism to stop myself from feeling the bad stuff in the same way; rather than assuming it will turn out badly, I assume it will be good but come up with ways I will be fine if it isn’t? Then no matter what the end result is good.

I probably have years of pent up bad feeling I have just refused to feel though haha.

 

[ProphecyGirl]

Glass half empty. Until something good happens to me I won't change my mind

 

[JLXRD]

I'm sort of weirdly both. So I have anxiety so my brain naturally thinks worse case scenario but I am a positive person overall and do always find the bright side. It's very weird cause I have anxiety but I also have nerves of steel. So I'll be crazy anxious but dive head first into it anyway. I always say it's like I have 2 different people living in me

I would say I'm positive. I do get stressed but I can calm myself quickly and find joy in small moments. I'm a bit like a dog. I just get excited about everything but I had depression for years so I think that's why I now get happy about small things.

I can get both too, if I am in a bad headspace (normally if I get quite stressed) or if I want to be a drama queen that day (normally because my husband has annoyed me) then I will get slightly pessimistic!

My husband is a pessimist and I get angry and tell him I don’t wanna hear it when he voices his pessimism so when I occasionally am pessimistic he’s like ‘OH WHOS A PESSIMIST NOW HUH!’

This is followed by me death glaring him

 

[birdiefly246]

A total pessimist. My husbands an optimist. We’ve had very different lives and I put it down to that. I pretty much always expect the worst and I’m usually right, but of course I have questioned whether it’s my attitude that’s making me see everything as turning out badly I can be optimistic sometimes but it’s rarer and depends on the situation.

I have thought this before and I agree with it.

I think I might be a bit of a hippy dippy loopy loo type if I'm honest
I am a bit of a believer in events just happen and our feelings decide whether they're good or bad (within reason obviously.) I also believe things happen for a reason, so if I miss my train or am in traffic or whatever I always think, yes this a bit shit but this is where I need to be right now. I think it's cause I remember watching people who survived the 9/11 attacks and they were all the most mundane reasons. One person literally survived cause they'd stopped to get plasters for a blister on the way to work.

 

[JLXRD]

Welcome to the optimist Club

Ignore those pessimists, lol

We live longer, it’s the place to be

Glass-half-full attitude may help you live past 85, new study finds

A new study adds to the evidence that optimistic men and women may live longer than those who are pessimistic.

www.statnews.com

 

[Gembo]

A total pessimist. My husbands an optimist. We’ve had very different lives and I put it down to that. I pretty much always expect the worst and I’m usually right, but of course I have questioned whether it’s my attitude that’s making me see everything as turning out badly I can be optimistic sometimes but it’s rarer and depends on the situation.

 

[cosmo girl]

I am optimistic but married to a pessimist. I just switch off from it all now

 

[birdiefly246]

I can get both too, if I am in a bad headspace (normally if I get quite stressed) or if I want to be a drama queen that day (normally because my husband has annoyed me) then I will get slightly pessimistic!

My husband is a pessimist and I get angry and tell him I don’t wanna hear it when he voices his pessimism so when I occasionally am pessimistic he’s like ‘OH WHOS A PESSIMIST NOW HUH!’

This is followed by me death glaring him

It's strange isn't it? I do think as well sometimes something can seem so shit in the moment but when you think about it later it's not that bad or you realise that actually the thing was a bit shit but was exacerbated by being hungry or tired etc. Sometimes I'm like the physical representation of the snickers advert, stood there like "the world is shit and I hate everyone!!" and then I have some food or put my pjs on and I'm happy again

I think it depends on the type pessimist you are. I don't mind realists cause I like to play devils advocate and analyse all aspects as well, but it's so annoying when you have a pessimist who is just constant with it. I know some people who are the victim in every situation and are just constantly whinging. It's draining when it feels like someone is just searching for reasons to be miserable

So you're both an optimist and a pessimist! Talk about sitting on the bleedin' fence

I've got splinters in my arse
Can I be an optimistic pessimist? Is that allowed

 

[Mulholland Drive]

I'm sort of weirdly both. So I have anxiety so my brain naturally thinks worse case scenario but I am a positive person overall and do always find the bright side. It's very weird cause I have anxiety but I also have nerves of steel. So I'll be crazy anxious but dive head first into it anyway. I always say it's like I have 2 different people living in me

I would say I'm positive. I do get stressed but I can calm myself quickly and find joy in small moments. I'm a bit like a dog. I just get excited about everything but I had depression for years so I think that's why I now get happy about small things.

So you're both an optimist and a pessimist! Talk about sitting on the bleedin' fence

 

[Mulholland Drive]

I'm an optimist purely because I am grateful for my lifestyle, and that I live in pretty decent countries.

 

[under the ivy]

I’m a glass half empty / pessimist. I’m never optimistic until it’s actually happened or I’m proved wrong