Some studies have shown that optimism leads to greater longevity , while other studies have said the exact opposite — that pessimism preserves your health. ... One study published in 2009 found that optimists were more likely to live longer than pessimists, thanks to a decreased chance of heart disease.
Is it better to be optimistic or realistic?
While realistic optimists believe in their power to make good things happen, even through rough conditions. Realistic optimists believe in their power to make good things happen, even through rough conditions. ... This kind of mindset, Grant explains, is much more beneficial than being an unrealistic optimist.
Are optimists or pessimists more successful?
Martin Seligman from the University of Pennsylvania found that optimistic sales professionals outsell their pessimistic counterparts by 56%. ... One study found that while most successful entrepreneurs will call themselves optimists, optimistic entrepreneurs earn 30% less than pessimistic ones on average.
Why being a pessimist is bad?
Pessimism affects your mental health because it constantly feeds you negative thoughts . A negative mindset can lead to anger and depression. If you are struggling with anxiety, worry, anger, rage, or depression, you can speak to a professional therapist to help transform your pessimistic attitude.
Are optimists or pessimists happier?
One thing that positive psychology research has taught us is that major setbacks do not cause people to feel unhappy for as long as people predict. ... Optimists tend to feel happier in general, and pessimists tend to feel less happy than that. If you’re a pessimist, it’s always possible to learn how to become an optimist.
Why optimism is bad?
Over-optimism can cloud our minds and lead us to miscalculate risks and make unsound decisions. It cause us to falsely assume that positive things are more likely to happen to us than others, and that we are more invulnerable to negative events than the rest.
Why is being realistic important?
You’ re well placed to get something done when it’s needed . Because you’re quick to realise the reality of a situation and ready to act on it. 5. Being well organised and prepared actually stimulates your confidence, and as a result, your optimism.
Why being a pessimist is good?
Pessimism can also be more beneficial than optimism in situations where you are waiting for news about an outcome and there is no opportunity to influence the outcome (such as waiting for the results of a job interview). ... Strangely, this type of pessimism can even help boost confidence.
Why are optimists so happy?
Thus, it appears that optimism is uniquely related to positive affect . This means that optimists are generally happier with their lives than pessimists. Optimists are also able to recover from disappointments more quickly by attending to positive outcomes to a greater extent than negative ones.
Are pessimists smarter?
Despite the record of things getting better for most people most of the time, pessimism isn’t just more common than optimism, it also sounds smarter . It’s intellectually captivating, and paid more attention to than the optimist who is often viewed as an oblivious sucker.
Do pessimists live longer?
Earlier this year, research published by the American Psychological Association showed that pessimists— because of their penchant for seeing life through a grim lens—take steps to improve their health, and thus tend to live longer than optimists . ... Optimism and pessimism come into play after you see the problem.
Why is optimism important for success?
Optimism Helps People Succeed. ... When something goes wrong , optimists link it to a specific situation or event, not their capabilities. Because they don’t view setbacks as personal failings, optimists are able to bounce back from disappointment better than pessimists.
Are pessimistic people depressed?
Pessimistic attribution style has been consistently associated with depression . Psychological factors such as hopelessness, little resilience to adversities, and constant rumination of sad thoughts also increase the likelihood of having depression (Beck & Alford, 2009).
Is being pessimistic a disorder?
Pessimism nor optimism are classified alone as mental disorders . However, being too pessimistic or too optimistic can have negative effects on our mental health and exacerbate certain mental illnesses/issues.
Are pessimists more realistic?
Pessimism involves looking at the world in a way that emphasizes negativity (think of the “glass half empty vs. half full” cliche), whereas, realism is more about truth and objectivity — not necessarily seeing a situation as bad, just seeing it as something to be dealt with.
Is optimism a weakness?
Optimism is all about balance. Above all, optimism isn’t a weakness . It isn’t a crutch or a secret ingredient to happiness or a pair of rose-colored glasses. Its counterpart doesn’t have to be deep pessimism.
