Is your glass half full or half empty?

Do you think I can change?

Published on August 24, 2006 By Question of the Day In Health & Medicine

Hi Everyone,

I'm a born pessimist. My glass is almost empty most of the time. I read this book titled Learned Optimism. It had lots of ideas for how I could change to be more optimistic. So my questions are:

1. Are you an optimist or a pessimist?
2. Do you think a pessimist, like me, can change?

Comments (Page 1)

Chaos Manager

on Aug 24, 2006

Hmmmm.... I'm a cynical pessismist. Not only do I think things are going to go badly, I KNOW they're going to go badly ...

Optimism/pessimism is just the way that you look at life. With enough effort (or some really good pharmacuticals), almost any aspect of your personality can be modified. The level of effort involved can vary, though.

Is it worth the effort? Meh, I don't see how it'll help ... (joking). If you feel that you're being too pessismistic and it's hampering your life, go for it.

jennifer1

on Aug 24, 2006

Pessimistic or optimistic - depend on levels of depression for me.

I believe you can change. Think back to a time or an incident when you did feel optimistic about something and the outcome was as you wanted it to be - a good one. Think how good you felt at the result, enjoy that feeling, relive it and make yourself want to feel it again.

Use this as an exercise when you approach something next time in a pessimistic frame of mind and see the change!

Sorry - probably poor advice but it has worked fo rme once in a while.

SanChonino

on Aug 24, 2006

I'm super optimistic. Occaisionally, I'll be a bit in the dumps (and that usually shows up in my writing here), but ninety-nine percent of the time I'm really optimistic. I figure that it doesn't do me any good complaining or looking at things poorly . . . doesn't change a thing.

I don't know if someone can change, though. the only really pessimistic person I know is my little sister . . . and I really don't think that she's ever going to change . . .

MasonM

on Aug 24, 2006

1. Are you an optimist or a pessimist? I am a pessimistic optimist.

2. Do you think a pessimist, like me, can change? I am supremely confident that you can't.

Moderateman

on Aug 24, 2006

neither, I drink from the container.

Dr Guy

on Aug 24, 2006

I'm with Moderateman. No dishes to wash then.

Shovelheat

on Aug 24, 2006

That's like the old question is it better to be pissed off than pissed on? It depends on your point of view at a given moment. Me? I hope for the best and expect the worst...

Adventure-Dude

on Aug 24, 2006

Depends what it is filled with. If it is medicine it is half empty if it is juice it is half full.

Trudygolightly

on Aug 24, 2006

My glass is half-full to overflowing! I've been richly blessed in life.

Anyone can change, the real question I think would be "do you want to change?"

Sometimes people find a "payoff" for staying the same, I oughta know

change isn't easy. It does start, I believe, one step at at time.

You sure don't strike me as being a pessimist

Question of the Day

on Aug 24, 2006

I see it as just another glass that's gonna have to be washed.Does that make me a pessimist, or just someone who hates to do dishes?

Yes and Yes.

Question of the Day

on Aug 24, 2006

Pessimistic or optimistic - depend on levels of depression for me.

Me too!

Question of the Day

on Aug 24, 2006

I don't know if someone can change, though. the only really pessimistic person I know is my little sister . . . and I really don't think that she's ever going to change . . .

But does she want to change?

Question of the Day

on Aug 24, 2006

I am supremely confident that you can't.

Are you trying some reverse psychology on me

Question of the Day

on Aug 24, 2006

is it better to be pissed off than pissed on?

I've actually never heard this one before. Interesting. I think it's better to be the pisser

Question of the Day

on Aug 24, 2006

You sure don't strike me as being a pessimist

Thanks Trudy. It's nice to hear that all the work I've done over the past few years is paying off. I have, and continue to change.

I've gone from almost empty to half empty to just half a glass.

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