optimistic or pessimistic?

[MrJones]

It depends a lot, I try to be optimistic, especially towards others but I'm more pessimistic with myself...

 

[razzle dazzle rose]

I am both. Optimistic at one moment and pessimistic at another. Sometimes I am really positive in my posts here, and at other times very negative. It is a roller coaster of emotions and I can't get off. I'd like my emotions to be more balanced; it would make things easier for me and those around me 'cause when I am happy I am really happy and can do so much, but when I am sad it all goes to ****. I am aware of this problem though and am trying to control myself when things get bad but it is so hard to convince myself that things will be okay when I am in the dumps.

 

[razzle dazzle rose]

Why are people on here saying things like "negativity never helped anybody" or "What's the point in being negative" ... being negative is not a choice, I can tell myself I feel optimistic but if I dont feel it, then I'm not. How do I make myself feel it? nobody is chosing negativity because they think it will help them, they are stuck with it. And maybe, based on their evaluation of their life and circumstances, maybe their negativity is justified and rational.

I totally understand where are coming from. We have plenty of reasons for our negativity and pessimism. No doubt about that! Having said that, we can flip our perspective on things to reflect a more positive outlook. The way it works is that you have to make little changes in your thinking. You have to change your negative thoughts into positive thoughts but it has to be something realistic, something you can believe or else it won't work. I didn't come up with this by the way. I read it in some self-help book. Remember to praise yourself for the little things you do; and live in the moment. We are responsible for our own happiness. Find the things that make you happy and do them. This stuff doesn't come naturally to me either; all this is something I am working on myself. I find that when I am happy or sad my situation is exactly the same. Nothing has changed but how I about it.

 

[Richey]

pessimistic mostly, well actually it depends on the circumstances..
i grew up around very cynical people you see and often felt hopeless ...

i go through phases of weeks where i do feel optimistic though..