Motivational US writer of the last century William Arthus Ward expertly distinguished between the three attitudes or mindsets: pessimism, optimism and realism. He has encapsulated them in his now famous metaphor, `The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.’
Take the common metaphor of a glass half-filled with water. The pessimist views it as half empty, the optimist sees it as half full, but the realist recognises it simply as a glass with water filled up to its half.
Optimism, pessimism and realism
The eternal optimist always believes in the best possible outcome in any situation. The hope that things will ultimately improve is typically associated with such individuals. Conversely, a pessimist tends to anticipate the worst-case scenario and often focuses on negative aspects. A realist views situations objectively without being swayed by any bias.
Converging evidence from psychology, physiology, psychiatry and neurology say the right hemisphere of the brain mediates pessimistic ideas and the left hemisphere generates the optimistic attitudes
Striking a balance
The debate over optimism, pessimism and realism has been going on for many years. While optimism can makes us feel hopeful, it can make us ignore negative emotions and lead to mental health issues. Pessimism can prepare us for the worst, but it can also lead us down a path of despair and depression.
So, what is the best mindset to apply in real life? Realism seems like the obvious answer, but we must not forget that we are human. Emotions are what make us who we are, be it positive or negative.
For instance, when a friend’s fiancé stands them up on their wedding day, what approach should one take? Do they take it in an optimistic manner and say it was for the better? Do they pessimistically say it was bound to happen? Or do they think realistically that there can be a partner better than the one who ditched them?
Is there a middle ground, a way to acknowledge the good, the bad and the neutral without becoming consumed by either extreme? Finding a healthy balance among them is important for making well-rounded decisions and effectively navigating various aspects of life.
Researchers have found that it is better to be realistically pessimistic than unrealistically optimistic. This means that optimism and pessimism cannot be seen in a strictly positive or negative light. To live a balanced life, it is important to have a mixture of all three mindsets. Realistic optimism is the way to be: It allows a person to maintain a positive outlook while acknowledging the difficulties of a situation.
