Are you an optimist, realist or a pessimist?
By wigima5
@wigima5 (904)
United States
March 24, 2010 8:16pm CST
Most people like to think that they are realists. That you have your good moments, and you have your bad. I used to think I was a realist. I probably was before, but recent two years I've figured out that I'm actually a pessimist. Many people don't like admitting they are pessimists because it is connected with hating life and being sad alll the time. But, that's not true, it's just a way of living. Many also don't like admitting they are optimists, because often optimists are thought to be annoyingly overly-happy, and a bit naive. But, like I said I am a pessimist, but an optimistic pessimist. I usually tend to be more quiet, and a lot of times when something bad happens I get sad n look at it a bit negatively, but I am not completely pessimistic and sad and can still look at the good side. but more pessimistic. so that is why I saw optimistic pessimist. There are also pessimistic optimists, who are optimistic in outlook but aren't AS optimistic as others and do look at the bad side some of the time.
So, which one are you? Or are you somewhere in between?
1 person likes this
15 responses
@Shanyn (28)
• Canada
25 Mar 10
I prefer to live by the common saying, "Hope for the best, but expect the worst." I suppose you might call that pessimism. Nothing ever seems to go right, you know? It's funny, because people say that pessimism is a self-fulfilling prophecy--you expect things will go poorly, so you indirectly help things go poorly, constantly setting yourself up for disappointment. But how can a person dare to be optimistic when circumstances have brought them to near rock-bottom?
@wigima5 (904)
• United States
25 Mar 10
I DO agree with that. Because of how I am, last year when I had a lot of bad things going on with friends and people, instead of picking myself up and not caring I overly cared and just would automatically look at all the negative things in me. This ended up destroying my self-confidence, and just this year I've managed to get over it and become strong and confidant again. And often, attitude IS huge. Like even when I'm feeling sick and I put that attitude into my head that I'm sick, I will continue to feel sick or feel worse. But, when all of a sudden I get distracted or start thinking I'm better I DO feel better. So often I do agree that attitude is important. On the same note, being overly-optimistic is bad too because then when something doesnt go as planned you get more crushed. Well, it's just someone's personality. Like I said, I was always quiet and introverted so I am more pessimistic. While, someone who is always smiling and in a good mood, and friendly, can fight through things and continue to think good of themselves no matter what.
@wigima5 (904)
• United States
25 Mar 10
aww, I feel bad for you. I am a lottt stronger now, because I got rid of all those negative influences. Like friends that I wasn't sure if they were true friends, I stopped talking to them, and I surrounded myself by good friends, and good people, and good situations. :) I'm soo fortunate for having SO many good online friends. I have 2 main best friends I've found online. And we talk about both our problems whenever we have them. If I didn't have her to talk to, I think I'd go insane because of keeping it in all the time. Just getting it written out, and letting someone know is great. Other people can really help lift you up. I would find a good online friend if I were you, and even message me if you want! I like helping out people, and it would be good to be able to talk to someone about things.
@Shanyn (28)
• Canada
25 Mar 10
I'm the same as you. Or, maybe the same as you used to be. Introspective, introverted, and every little thing that goes wrong is crushing. Distractions really do help. I'd go see a shrink if I could afford it, but I can't, so I just surround myself with distractions. This site is my newest one. Ha!
@shynepapin101 (1879)
• United Arab Emirates
28 Mar 10
Am an optimist because i hope for good things and
@frankiecesca (2489)
•
25 Mar 10
I would definitely say I am an optimist! I try to think of the good things about everything and am always looking forwrd to things in life. I think the reason for this is because I was in bad debt for such a long time and now it is starting to clear I realise how much bettr life has got and so there is no point in me being pessimistic as I know things could be worse thn they are.
However saying this I do know when to be a realist about certain things. Things I know are physically impossible for me to just do and so I think about these things logically and then that in turn makes me optimistic because I know how things will get done rather than feeling I have failed when in reality it wouldn't have been possible in the first place without the logic.
@kyel_11 (1069)
• Philippines
25 Mar 10
Well I think I am a mixture of those three qualities. I can be an optimist, i can also be a pessimist and realist, too. It depends on the situation I'm currently facing I think. When I still have high hopes for something, then I'll be an optimist. When I think that something is impossible to accomplish, I'll be a realist and just accept what will happen next. I'll be a pessimist if I think beforehand negative results on that something. I just wish I were a optimist all the time 
@wigima5 (904)
• United States
25 Mar 10
tats interesting. And yes, being optimistic is a very happy way to live life. I often wish to be more like those ppl. They seem very strong, and life is short, and they don't waste it being depressed and sad and crying. But, I don't know if I'd want to be happy ALL the time. so not an extreme optimist. but a slight optimist would be great I think.
@ernkjha (46)
• India
25 Mar 10
Hi wigima5, i am a realist, rather i can say life has made me that. In today's world you can't stick to one ideal or one idea or one belief, things that work for this moment for someone may not work for you the other moment. So we should have a practical approch in life which strengthens us with dare to accept challenges and enjoy success thereafter, we become ready enough to tacle any incidents in life with our real gained experience.Also seeing is believing right, so why not taste everything in life, its ups and down's, challenges and opportunities, sorrows and happiness whatever comnes our way thinking it as our destiny and noth bothering about any sort of consequences resulting from our acts and deeds.One should always live in the real world with real participation with life
@pilson (94)
• United States
25 Mar 10
I originally think i am an optimist, but after i finished the reading of you words, i have no exact idea what kind of man i am. LOL. maybe i am a realist, maybe i an optimistic pessimist, like you said. sometimes i look at the good side and sometimes i look at the bad side. when something bad happens to me, i usually make me change my attention into another direction, ignoring the bad things. but in some cases, i can't remove my attention quickly, e.g., when my girlfriend and I broke up, it had took a long time for me to forget it.
Anyway, I agree with you so much. being any kinds of people is a way of living. i should be me, i don't want do anything to change my way of living.
@angelajoy (1825)
• Philippines
25 Mar 10
I am a mix of all three. I can be very pessimistic when I don't want to be disappointed. Not hoping too much would not get me disappointed. But when I hit rock-bottom I suddenly find hope and optimism. Most of the time I am a realist and examine all sides of a situation before making plans or conclusions.
@1anurag1 (3576)
• India
25 Mar 10
i am a realistic person. i was earlier a great optimistic but time has changed my views and after many failure i came to know many things about reality. but i did not turn my self as a pessimist. i have become a realistic person. i have become more down to earth person now.
@madteaparty (2748)
• Japan
25 Mar 10
I think I'm a realistic person. Some people just try to see bad on everything, as well as some people try to see good on everything, but the world is not black or white. It is infinite shades of grey. That's why I try to look at every situation from a realistic point of view. If something is not good, I won't try to think of it as a good thing 
@bulastika (5966)
• Philippines
25 Mar 10
Let just say I'm freak of nature.
I don't want to be branded as this or not.
I have a mood. I can be funny today and boring tomorrow. I can be sweet this moment and be sour later on. I'm an actor, a poker player. A Hercules and a weakling at the same time. I can be thoughtful and I can be hard.
..
It depends on my mode.
So beware of me.
I can be a puppy and can be a bear at the same time.
@p3ks626 (6538)
• Philippines
25 Mar 10
My husband always tell me I am very pessimistic but the thing is, I dont call it being pessimistic at all. I just dont want to jump into conclusions without thinking about the pros and cons about something cause I dont want to get disappointed. I think its very disappointing to say something or expect something that wont happen. So I always make sure that things are right before I say something good about it or expect something good about it. I really dont want to end up disappointed since I have experienced it so many times of being disappointed about something.
@apoljuice1 (730)
• Philippines
25 Mar 10
I'm actually an idealist which causes me to get a lot of negative outcomes. I like to think that there's always a certain way to do things. I believe that there are some parts in life like marriage or society that is achievable or it can be done. For example, i believe that if your partner can go abroad to get a job I believe that you can go together and not have to leave the other behind.
But that doesn't mean that I'm not practical either, and the sense of being optimistic or pessimistic, i lean more towards pessimism because of having to be idealistic. So I'm not really expecting much from things and at least it doesn't get me that low when things turn out to be not going my way. :-)
@dimitarivanov (228)
• Netherlands
25 Mar 10
I think I am positive for all the outcomes of a realist kind of mind, with a little bit of a negativeness I experienced in the past. So I guess that's got to be positive, right? :)
@zzyw87 (1254)
• Philippines
25 Mar 10
I have to say that I am somewhere in between. I definitely am not an optimist. Maybe a bit more of a pessimist. I usually expect things to turn out badly or so-s0 only. I seldom expect things to turn out nicely or as I wished. I am also a bit of a realist. I know things are just the way they are. If something bad happened, then we move on. I always tell myself that it is just life. Good things happen as well as bad. So I am a bit of all three.
