Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

I’m an optimistic pessimist otherwise known as a worrywort.

Optimist. Despite getting slapped in the face by life a lot.

I’ve always been a more optimistic type with bouts of pessimism. Only during times of grave, situational stressors, like losing it all in this recession. That has been hard but, I soldier on and am very proud that I am naturally of a good, stable nature, not prone to emotional issues and while I have weathered some really tough times I perservere and remain, overall, accepting of the shit that comes my way.

I have known the greatest of joys as well. Into every life a little rain must fall right?

Mmm….I wonder!

Pessimist. Then, if things go well, I can be pleasantly surprised.

Economically pessimistic, socially optimistic.

I’ve become a determined optimist. I will try to find the good in everything, even disaster. I decided awhile back that living a life thinking that everything was pure shit was useless and a waste of life. It is also a very unattractive quality. The only people you will attract will be other whiners and complainers, other pessimists.

I think it was when I saw the predominance of pessimism on the net years ago— I didn’t know so many people actually felt that way. I will no longer step into that dark spiral, it is bottomless. Things haven’t changed on the net, but I have and that is what is important. I’m happier.

It depends on what the subject at hand is. I can be both a pessimist and an optimist at the same time or separately. I am a realist.

@kritiper Yes, I would consider myself a realist too. If I am pessimistic it has solid backup. haha

Like @kritiper, I’m a realist. I used to be born optimist until life slapped me in the face. I then became a pessimist but then it just did more harm than good. I realized that it’s better to know where you are on the ground and react accordingly. But that also makes me feel older than people my age.

Why court certain disappointment?

I would consider myself an optimistic pessimist , ,it will probably fail but what the hell lets try it anyway.

Generally I’m an optimist by nature and instinct , otherwise I likely would not have survived my childhood without jumping off a bridge or something.

But I always knew that everything would be OK once I got out of that crazy household and I could chart my own course and live according to my rules.

If I just did everything the direct opposite to what my parents did, I’d turn out just fine. And by and large that’s been true.

My cup?
It’s i/2 full.

My name should say it all. Pessimist to others, realist to me.

An optimist. No doubt aboiut it.

Was famously optimistic as a child. My catch phrase was “At least…”

Not sure about now. Lots of that’s been beaten out of me.

The more I understand the mind and body connection, the more I am trying to be optimistic. It’s tough though!

@Mariah the optimism never leaves you. IMO.
If you were, as a child, optimistic, that were answers

I’m definitely optimistic. Have been all my life, to the point of being accused of being a Pollyanna. I’ve always identified with this song, although as I’ve grown older, my “cockeyed” optimism has been tempered by pragmatic realism.