Optimism and pessimism are seen as opposite values. Optimism being having hopes and confidence in the future, and pessimism being the tendency to see the worst in future outcomes.
Criticisms have come about for both these thought processes; some have thought of optimism as unrealistic thinking and fantastical, while others judge pessimism as unproductive and damaging.
However, not only are having both outlooks better for yourself but being able to balance them together is one of the best skills you could have. Let’s talk about it.
1. Optimism: Explained
One reason people tend to not be open to optimistic thinking is that they think that it is based on foolishness. However, optimistic thinking is anything but (when practiced correctly, of course).
Optimism is popularly thought of as thinking “everything will work out in the end,”. However, it’s actually telling yourself that things will always get better. Optimism is realizing that although things may suck right now, that doesn’t mean they will suck forever.
Optimistic thinking is ultimately centered around the realization that you can still work for a better future. The limitations that shackle you will not be there forever. Even in moments of struggle, you should remind yourself that the next day is still worth it.
It’s necessary for people to embrace optimistic thinking because it pushes people to continue working hard the next day. Who knows, that glass half empty could turn into a glass half full.
2. Why You Shouldn’t Practice Only Being Optimistic.
Even if optimistic thinking is positive, there is still caution to be taken. Like most things in the world, too much of anything can be dangerous, which also applies to optimistic thinking
Being optimistic is not a bad thing, but allowing optimism to be your only way of thinking is not helpful – as this type of restriction of thinking is not grounded in realism and is damaging.
Optimism is: still trying hard for a better future. However, if you are so focused on ignoring the struggles you face now, the things in the present are dismissed and denied, and you prevent yourself from growing.
Before striving for something better, you first need to process the negative emotions. Not suppressing and denying that the reality of the world sucks sometimes. No matter what you do, there are things in life that will drag you down, that will ultimately suck.
Looking inward and processing those emotions is essential for you to practice truly helpful optimistic thinking. You must be willing to give all that you have to change your environment. Even the good and the bad.
3. Pessimism: What is it? And why do we need it?
Sometimes, when you’re in a good mood, you have that one friend with you who just has to bring everybody down with them. You think to yourself, “Why is this person so pessimistic for no good reason?”
In reality, there is a very good reason why a person can be pessimistic. Pessimism (healthy pessimism that is), is not just being a skeptic, but acknowledging the more real, disappointing truths of the world. It is something that is grounded in reality and is essential for surviving in this society we have built.
There will be disappointments that can’t be hidden, and there will be people who lose when other people win; facing this reality allows you to become more knowledgeable. Pessimistic thinking is necessary because you see that there are many people, situations, even objects that are in of need improvement.
When you see something that needs improvement, then you’re already taking a step to fixing the issue. Acknowledging the bad parts – those little bits of hot sauce that landed on your white blouse – doesn’t have to be damaging. Seeing those stains for what they are, gives you the purpose to get rid of that stain and wear the white blouse on another day.
4. Why you shouldn’t be just pessimistic.
Pessimism, as helpful as it is, can be a slippery slope. Pessimism as a thought process mainly works when you can get yourself to improve upon it. However, when using it exclusively you stay in that area of disappointment and disregard.
Letting yourself understand how a situation is bad is actually a good thing because then you could take those next steps to make the situation better.
However, if you just tell yourself how bad everything is, without ever really doing something about it, you are denying yourself the opportunity for change. You deny yourself another chance to make wrongs right, and you just keep wrongs, wrong.
We need pessimism to acknowledge that stain on that blouse, but we need the drive of pessimism to do something about it. After all, why realize there’s a stain in the first place if you won’t eventually fix it?
Final Words
It is natural for humans to try their best to see the light in the world, and it is also natural for humans to be let down by the darkness. However, using both optimism and pessimism, allows you to see the world for what it is: a complex conglomeration of good and bad. While it needs improvement, it can still be pretty great to experience. Let yourself be sad, and let yourself be happy, and then tell yourself that the next day, you’re going to do your best to be a bit better. And that’s all we can really ask for ourselves.
Shajnin Howlader is a high school junior from New York who is passionate about writing. Her goal is to reach many people through her writing and help them.
