Why you don’t need to be optimistic? Pessimism is better

Generally, people praise the optimistic mindset, and research suggests that optimism helps. We reduce stress and depressive symptoms. Hence, optimism seems to be a healthy coping mechanism for dealing with the future when looking at the scientifically proven benefits.

But, does optimism also have downsides?
Can some forms of optimism even be dangerous?
And could it be that, in some cases, we’re better off being pessimistic?
This blog explores why optimism may not always be the wisest choice and why being a pessimist may be the best move.

There are different definitions of optimism. The Cambridge Dictionary, for example, describes optimism as: “The quality of being full of hope and emphasizing the good parts of a situation, or a belief that something good will happen.” The Collins Dictionary defines optimism as: “the feeling of being hopeful about the future or the success of something in particular.” And Oxford Languages provides the following definition: “Hopefulness and confidence about the future or the success of something.”

In my opinion, optimism doesn’t mean “emphasizing the good parts of a situation” (or “seeing the silver lining”). Rather, optimism refers to hopefulness and confidence about the future and the belief that something good will happen.

Pessimism isn’t just about negative thinking. Personality science has revealed it also includes a focus on outcomes – that is what you expect will happen in the future. While optimists expect positive outcomes will happen more often than not, pessimists expect negative outcomes are more likely.https://theconversation.com/the-surprising-benefits-of-being-a-pessimist-91851

Optimistic future predictions can make us feel good in the present, but that doesn’t mean they’re trustworthy or helpful in dealing with future events. There’s always a chance that everything will not be okay, and things will not work out fine. And if that happens, chances are we’re not just disappointed but also unprepared. Moreover, there’s no reason to be optimistic in some situations. But if we nonetheless insist, optimism quickly turns into denialism and toxic positivity.

Listen to the podcast to know why in order to be productive (as in here, optimistic) we go wrong.

Now, let’s explore some reasons not to be optimistic

(1) You won’t be shocked by the repercussions

Suppose we’re optimistic about the future. in a way that denies the possibility of significant adversity (especially when things are looking grim). In that case, we’ll be shocked, dumbfounded, and overwhelmed when Fate surprises us by presenting what we deem impossible.

This logic applies to all forms of misfortune. A company’s best employee can still lose her job. The richest man in the world can still lose all of his wealth, the most stable and happy marriage can still fall apart, and someone with the healthiest lifestyle imaginable can still die from a heart attack anytime.

Impermanence is the only constant, always at work, creating and destroying and making things we deem impossible possible. And when those things occur, many people are devastated, which they probably wouldn’t have been if they were open to the possibility of the worst happening.

Instead, they would have prepared themselves. And so, a degree of reasonable pessimism is probably our best bet, as opposed to sticking our heads in the sand like ostriches ‘optimistically’ pretending that everything will be fine.

(2) You use the situation advantageously

We could call it ‘denialism’ or ‘baseless optimism’. An empty optimism, often based on rumours, isn’t the correct answer to our terrible mental health. The yearning for liberation, disappointments about the future, and unwillingness to work with the present proves fatal.

Regardless of how unfortunate, accepting our current situation grants us the opportunity to find meaning in those circumstances. And so, we’re able to use the situation to our advantage, for example, as a means of growing personally or strengthening our resilience.

We could also use our circumstances to benefit other people, for instance, by helping those struck by a similar tragic fate.

How, to pose the question differently, can life retain its potential meaning despite its tragic aspects? After all, “saying yes to life despite everything,” to use the phrase in which the title of a German book that life is potentially meaningful under any conditions, even those which are most miserable.

(3) You appreciate, positive outcomes

So, while optimism may be pleasurable in the short-term, pessimism could secure an overall better experience in the future, as negative but reasonable expectations may prepare us better for any fate. Also, baseless optimism can be pretty dangerous, generating false hopes for the future and grave (even deadly) disappointment.

Just give a pause and think, of you are already determined about the best possible results out there to work out for you like a blessing obliged to you. How would you promote celebrating the achievement of real success?
Not only you would find it hard to express the pleasure of accomplishment, but also you would certainly remain unaware of the feeling of self-satisfaction and fulfilment. And, fulfilment is something, without which you could never justify the meaning of happiness for yourself.

Moreover, with a picture-perfect kind of success in the back of the mind, no one could be mindful enough to appreciate the success you tend to receive. Because, with the particularly appreciative of the outcome; p simply got what he expected, nothing more, nothing less.

Positive thinking had been perceived incorrectly a lot of times. The faith surrounding the idea of thinking positive is somehow failing. Unfortunately, everyone had begun to adopt the habit of optimism to ignore the reality of their life. Excessive positive thinking is putting the optimum in a box.

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