Pessimist to an Optimist?

[NeverlandClub23]

Do you believe a pessimist can turn into an optimist? Just seeing what people think. And if so, how?

 

[caitycaity]

yes - i believe people can change. i have over my life so far.

 

[C.Ann]

Yes - but it's hard work.. Every time you have a negative thought, you have to shoo it away with a positive thought.. And if you look hard enough, you can usually find something "positive" in a "negative" situation.. Basically you have to re-train your thought process..

 

[nhrenee]

I think the outlook is probably bleak.

 

[lemondog]

Yep...it's called medication.

Ever since I started on daily anti-anxiety meds my whole outlook on life has changed. I know my doctor wants to start weaning me off of them soon and I am really terrified I will go back to looking at life so bleakly, always waiting for the worst to happen. It's not a fun way to live.

 

[rayelias]

I think the outlook is probably bleak.

nhrenee - that's kinda funny!

I am a reformed pessimist. I always scoffed at those "happy" people, but after LONG work (lots of reading, motivational tapes, a change of my circle of influence), I have changed.

However, I am not a "natural" optimist, like some people. I have to work on it every day. It is HARD work, but very worth while. I can honestly say my entire life changed, and I became successful (both personally & professionally) due to my change in outlook.

 

[bicker]

Pessimism and optimism are often the same thing. People who expect things to go well are called optimists, yet when things go poorly they are pessimistic about the people or things that let them down. Meanwhile, people who expect things to go poorly are called pessimists, yet when things go well they are optimistic about the people or things that delighted them.

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

"Learned Optimism" by Seligman

Great book, canned be summed up as: pessimists are more realistic, optimists are more efffective.

Well worth reading.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

nhrenee - that's kinda funny!

I am a reformed pessimist. I always scoffed at those "happy" people, but after LONG work (lots of reading, motivational tapes, a change of my circle of influence), I have changed.

However, I am not a "natural" optimist, like some people. I have to work on it every day. It is HARD work, but very worth while. I can honestly say my entire life changed, and I became successful (both personally & professionally) due to my change in outlook.

How inspiring!! I've noticed more and more that I'm becoming pessimistic about everything. Like I don't do things because I expect the worst to happen. Even when it's something I love (going to WDW) I find something negative that might or might not happen but in my mind it WILL happen ("it'll rain and be cold and crowded the whole time"). My dad was a lot like that when I was growing up and I have realized more and more that we think the same about things and I do not want to spend my whole life thinking about things like that. So I've got to change. Thanks everyone for all of the responses and Wished I Lived in Fl, I will definitely have to check out that book. Thanks!

 

[RitaZ.]

Yes - but it's hard work.. Every time you have a negative thought, you have to shoo it away with a positive thought.. And if you look hard enough, you can usually find something "positive" in a "negative" situation.. Basically you have to re-train your thought process..

What she said!