A pessimist usually expects unfavorable outcomes and is suspicious when things seem to be going well.
Pessimism is not a trait most people aspire to.
It’s associated with negativity, a “glass half-full” attitude, depression, and othermood disorders.
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However, a healthy dose of negative thinking isn’t necessarily all bad.
In fact, sometimes a little pessimism might actually be a good thing.
Pessimism vs.
Optimism
Pessimism is the opposite ofoptimism.
Which One Are You?
The Pessimism-Optimism Spectrum
Psychologists view pessimism and optimism as being on a line.
Most people lie somewhere in the middle of the pessimism-optimism spectrum.
Everyone has their ups and downs, when their way of thinking is more negative or positive.
Life circumstances and the effects of time and experience also impact our relative pessimism or optimism.
People can be more optimistic about one area of life and less optimistic about another.
However, one’s way of thinking usually leans toward one end of the spectrum.
This results in a personality that is more or less pessimistic.
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One key difference between how an optimist and a pessimist thinks has to do with theirexplanatory style.
This is is the way in which people interpret or explain what happens in their lives.
Having a tendency toward pessimism can also impact your outlook on life.
A pessimist will often downplay the positives in a situation while heightening their focus on the negative.
An optimist will do the opposite, magnifying positive events while minimizing the negatives in a situation.
It may also cause an optimist to feel surprised when things dont go their way.
An optimist may seek new solutions instead of dwelling on problems.
Limiting the negative health impact of overly pessimistic thoughts appears to have more effect than purelypositive thinking.
In fact, there can be some real benefits to a healthy dose of pessimism.
Pessimists are often betterprepared for tough timesand may avoid risks that more optimistic thinkers might ignore.
Pessimism can be a positive or a negative, having both types of impacts on one’s life.
Risks of Pessimism
There are several clear drawbacks of too much pessimism.
Conversely, optimists experience healthier stress levels and a higher perception of life satisfaction.
Another worrisome component of pessimism is that it may makestressful situationsfeel worse than they actually are.
On the other hand, more optimistic thinking can help significantly when coping with challenging events.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Optimism
One of the biggest risks of being a pessimist isnotbeing an optimist.
But living on the bright side isn’t always sunny.
Even when considering the possible drawbacks, the benefits of optimism are huge.
Living With Pessimism
How can you stay optimistic without missing opportunities to keep yourself prepared for crises?
There are a number of steps it’s possible for you to take.
Then, focus on the positives while keeping these backup plans in mind.
Remember Whats Important
Savor and remember what you have and aim to cultivategratitude.
Stress results when we feel that the demands of a situation exceed our resources to handle them.
So, make time to take inventory of your strengths and resources.
Practicingmindfulnessis another helpful strategy.
Optimists tend to feel happier in general, and pessimists tend to feel less happy.
If youre a pessimist, its always possible to learn how tobecome an optimist.
Sometimes enduring a crisis provides you with just the right motivation to do that.
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