No doubt you’ve encountered or even read numerous blogs, articles, and/or books that extoll the virtues of optimism. Some research has shown that optimists tend to have better relationships, happier lives, and greater accomplishments. Some authors suggest that you can never be too optimistic and that, by implication, you should worry if you tend toward the pessimistic side of things.
I suppose I should be concerned about all of this hoopla over optimism. You see, as my wife will readily verify, I rather often take a different approach. It’s something that Dr. Julie Norem calls “defensive pessimism.” Sounds sort of awful doesn’t it? Does this mean that I walk around morose and glum and project nothing but doom and gloom? Not at all.
However, I do frequently imagine “worst case scenarios.” I run various “what if” scenarios through my mind such as:
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Thats a really good article. It explains a lot of what I do. I want all my goals to go well and envision the triumphs but also really take a look at all the worst senarios too especialy when you are in an area where you have no prior experience to guide you. When your taking enterprising gambles on a shoestring you cannot get carried away by the emotional euphoria of optimism or you could make some costly mistakes, but then again some risk-taking has to be done, like nothing ventured nothing gained. You gotta keep it realistic. When in a situation where I lacked experience my pessimistc hunches have helped me from losing time and money when they were proved right or hurt when I ignored them. Optimism is good for getting you back on your feet. Though be careful of others stressing you to be abundently optimistc by telling you its all good, especially if you are selling you something in some way, look to see if all the risk in on your part and little on theirs.
@Stephanie: Thanks for your comments!
I meant to write, “..epecially it they are selling you something..”
Good article! I recently posted an article on the benefits of laughter to the mind and body for fighting depression and anxiety; not to mention that we are a product of our thoughts in that feelings follow our thought life…
Thanks for the concise and good read!
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