Optimism vs Pessimism

Optimism Vs Pessimism - How You Think and Feel Impacts On Your Life And Your Memory Improvement Program

Do you consider yourself an optimist or a pessimist? Perhaps you're a little bit of both, but chances are that you will likely fall into one category or another. Optimists have a greater chance of succeeding in life.

A definition of optimism is that the optimist's viewpoint is bright and positive. They usually don't assume the worst and have an easier time accepting things that a pessimist would rather not.

Optimism Vs Pessimism - How Do You Want To Live Your Life?

Studies have shown that optimists lead happier, more successful lives.

The good news is that that although an individual may be a pessimist at heart, the positive behaviors and ways of thinking of an optimist can be learned - in psychological circles this is known as learned optimism.

Optimism Vs Pessimism - Guess Who is More Realistic?

There are typically negative and positive aspects to both optimistic and pessimistic ways of thinking.

During scientific studies, pessimistic individuals were observed to have a more realistic handle on life's events. The downside is obviously that pessimistic thinking holds people back from achieving what's really possible. It prevents them from "thinking outside the box". All they can see is the dreadful situation at hand. Nothing but negativity is perceived, thus creating a stream of undesirable outcomes.

How Does A Pessimistic Nature Impact Memory Improvement?

Well a pessimistic person might start a memory improvement program and initially find some of the games and puzzles challenging. So rather than looking on the bright side and saying to themselves "I'll get better at this with a bit of practice", they are more likely to think to themselves "May as well give up - I'm hopeless at this sort of thing" and with that very thought rob themselves of the opportunity to enhance their memory and live their full life potential.

Studies have observed that the disadvantage of optimistic thinking is that people can sometimes take on an unrealistic view of things. There is a possibility that an optimist's goals may seem unrealistic and/or unachievable, which can ultimately set an individual up for failure. However, an optimist is actually less likely to become depressed when negative events occur, and much more likely to meet their goals, or at least come closer than originally expected.

Optimism vs Pessimism - When a Setback Happens Guess Who Thinks It Is Forever?

When something unwanted happens, pessimists tend to think in terms of permanence. For example, when they don't get the job promotion they were hoping for, they assume that they will "never" be good enough. They give up altogether and set limitations for themselves without realizing it. Negative thinking is narrow and limiting thinking.

Whereas an optimist if they don't succeed - for example - get the job are more likely to assume they missed out this time, it is just a matter of time until they do get promoted and it probably had little to do with their actual performance (this is where the unrealistic perspective of the optimist can sometimes slip in!).

Optimism vs Pessimism - Who Thinks One Bad Experience Is Going to Affect Many Areas of Their Life?

Pessimists are more likely to allow events to affect their entire life. When they fail at something, they feel that this failure is going to spill over into all areas of their life ... The conversation that goes on in their mind goes something like ... "My partner and I broke up, I'm hopeless at relationships ... it probably won't be long before I get fired for my job for not being a nicer person ... it's probably why I won't get picked for the baseball team" and on and on they go taking a single instance and extrapolating it in to all areas of their life.

Conversely, when optimists experience a failure, they simply brush it off, confine it to that single aspect of their life and try again. They would have a conversation with themselves along the lines of: "I'm not happy that my partner and I broke up, but still I'm a good person and I'm sure I'll find someone better soon, and in the meantime I'm good at my job, I've got a great circle of friends .... "

The positive thinking involved in being an optimist makes for a higher quality of life.

The decision is yours to make. If you want a life full of joy and positive experiences, try thinking like an optimist. When something goes wrong, just move on and give it another shot. If you don't 'get it' the first time you are using a memory improvement tool, remind yourself that you will improve.

Don't allow small disappointments to bring you down because there will always be disappointments. It is all about how you react. When you choose to think like an optimist, your entire life will change for the better.

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