By Rachel Wade, Writer
We can’t all live in a constant bubble of optimism and hope, despite how admirable it may sound. Optimists often find themselves trying to stay in this bubble, only for pessimists to come along and burst it. Pessimists identify themselves with the belief that all things are negative and they are incapable of finding the brighter side of things. In the state of the globe now, it’s expected that millions of optimists are struggling to have hope for the future. Perhaps being a pessimist isn’t such a bad thing after all.
Nobody likes to be disappointed. Whether it’s from test results, relationships or events, even the slightest hint of disappointment is bound to linger. Optimists may feel they have their hopes too high and expect good things only, yet the possibilities of such outcomes occurring every single time are very rare. So what do pessimists do? Usually, their expectations are kept low and they assume the worst to come. Of course, this means they are not as disappointed with reality. Being a ‘pessimistic optimist’ means you plan ahead to expect the unexpected, which seems equally as inviting as being a pessimistic. Therefore, in the case of expectations, being optimistic is perhaps the unluckiest of mindsets if you wish to avoid disappointment, as reality doesn’t always meet our standards.
Yet pessimism is not the best of mindsets either. It appears that they find it more difficult to seem alluring in relationships, and in social situations they come across as dull or a ‘debby downer’. A pessimist is someone that struggles to enjoy the beautiful things that happen in their life, despite their low expectations. Even if something ends up being better than expected, a pessimist will immediately think "well, it could have gone even better, but it didn't". Many, therefore, commend optimism for being the superlative of mindsets. Studies in 1992 found that optimism predicted better psychological coping post-HIV-diagnosis, as well as more perceived control over personal health and well-being. Taking this into account - that optimism leads to not only improved psychological health, but also physical health - there must be a way for pessimists to touch into their positive side (even if they assume it's pointless.)
An article by Art Markman for the Fact Company explains that there are ways to ‘flip your motivational orientation’. Firstly, Markman states that it’s important for a pessimist to simply focus on what they truly want. Specifically, trying to vision a desired goal with a positive outcome. In doing this, the positive outcomes become more apparent, and seeing the beauty in the things around them is more evident. Then, Markman advises that a pessimist should hang out with an optimist. If they want to change their overall outlook, it’s essential that alternative perspectives are provided and shown possible for the pessimist. He expresses that ‘There is a lot of evidence that we tend to tune ourselves to the people around us—particularly those people we converse with’. By listening and taking in what the optimist sees and says, the pessimist will be able to sense their own positive light.
As an optimist who has conversed with a pessimist, it may seem all doom and gloom in the beginning. I, among millions, have countlessly experienced people state that there’s no hope, no future and no ‘light at the end of the tunnel’. The wrong thing to do is to dismiss their negative mindset - it only creates more internal chaos for them. Empathising with their pessimistic perspective should be noted within the conversation (should not be a difficult thing considering the current state of the globe). However enforcing that there is an alternative outlook and reality can occur as respite from their negativity. Shifting the light onto the small things in life to look forward to rather than the state of humanity itself can be a big start for pessimists beginning to feel more hope.
Bringing about positivity is not as simple as it may seem for everyone, and it’s important we remember that. However, representation in the media of ‘good news’ is an immense effort to bring glimmers of faith into pessimists, and trying to dilute the amount of negative news they consume within a day will certainly help improve. We all need positivity, and to have little things in our individual lives that “spark joy”. Whether you’re a pessimist or an optimist, distancing yourself from the toxicity of the news has become essential in this modern age for psychological survival,and remembering that it’s okay to not be constantly updated on current events rather than sacrificing your wellbeing.
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