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5 major differences between an optimist and a pessimist

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Optimism maximizes potential as pessimism squashes it. See five differences between optimists and pessimists;

 

  1. Optimists Believe They Are In Control

Optimists believe they can shape their future. They see no reason why tomorrow cannot be better than today was. Circumstances and prior failures do not matter as much to an optimist. An optimist’s worldview is such that life improvement is expected. This loops and strengthens itself over time through positive reinforcement, especially with the right strategies.

A pessimist often feel no sense of control over their lives. If they believed they had control, they wouldn’t be pessimists, because that would mean that they choose negative outcomes. Quite often, pessimists base their gloomy expectations on prior experiences.

 

  1. Optimists Are Forward-Looking

Yesterday is filed away as a joyful or educational experience in the mind of an optimist. There is no day like the present and the present moment is completely neutral. So the optimist sees this neutrality as an opportunity to make something good happen. Another optimist skill is connecting how today’s positive actions almost guarantees a better future.

Pessimists are not forward-looking in general. Yes, they look ahead and see a bleak future, but they often base it on the past.  Sometimes they become gloomy on account of some recent news or traumatic event, not even their past. The past can cripple you if you live in it or it can teach you if you examine it.

 

 

  1. Optimists Are Confident In Themselves

Confidence is a determining factor for optimism and pessimism. Optimists believe they can overcome whatever life throws at them and continue on their way.

Pessimists don’t believe this, and so are “victims” of circumstance. If you lack confidence, you might be a pessimist for the simple reason that you don’t believe you can do it. The best way to fix this problem is to learn the skills you need in order to succeed. Change your definition of success to progress and focus on what you can succeed with now.

 

 

  1. Optimists See Possibility. Pessimists See Problems.

The positive-minded person says, “What should I do next? There are so many exciting options!” The negative-minded person says, “What should I do next? I’ve got so many problems to deal with”. The optimist sees difficulties as specific, while the pessimist sees them as pervasive. This means that when things go wrong for the optimist, he looks at the event as an isolated incident largely disconnected from other things that are going on in his life. Problems are a part of life and it is best to ignore the ones you cannot do anything about.

 

  1. Optimists view events as external

While optimists see events as external, while pessimists interpret events as personal. When things go wrong, the optimist will tend to see the setback as resulting from external factors over which one has little control. The pessimist on the other hand, has a tendency to take everything personally. Look on the inevitable setbacks that you face as being temporary, specific and external. View the negative situation as a single event that is not connected to other potential events and that is caused largely by external factors over which you can have little control. Simply refuse to see the event as being in any way permanent, pervasive or indicative of personal incompetence of inability.

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