An optimist is a person whose main feature is belief in a positive outcome of all events. He strives to approach life more simply, not attaching importance to unimportant things or those that carry negativity. According to some studies, people who are characterized by optimism are physically healthier, they have high immunity, and psychosomatic diseases bypass them. Such people are able to quickly establish friendships and maintain relationships, and the presence of social activity directly affects the preservation of their health.
What does the word optimist mean? The word optimist comes from the Latin term “optimus,” which means “best.” That is, an optimist is a person who is convinced that all problems can be found in the best solution for a person, you just need to not lose faith, be positive and everything will turn out great.
Who is an optimist? An optimist is a person who prefers finding new ways to solve problems rather than being discouraged. He does not allow himself to “lower his shoulders” and come to terms with the situation.
An optimist does not give in to weakness and depression. Such people do not tend to feel sorry for themselves, since this makes them appear vulnerable. A person with an optimistic attitude claims that everything is wonderful in the world, you just need to try to keep it that way. This attitude is the opposite of pessimism.
True optimists have a positive thinking style, so they perceive all failures as random and impermanent, and all good events as natural.
Who is an optimist?
An optimist is a person who, in any situation, counts on a positive scenario for the development of events. They are almost always in high spirits and are not afraid of failures, but prefer to believe in success in any circumstances. There are a number of key signs that characterize an optimist, including:
1. Communication skills
. Unlike a pessimist, an optimist is not afraid to make a bad impression on others, therefore he appears more confident in communication and easily makes contact with unfamiliar people.
2. Smiling
. Another distinctive feature of optimists is a smile that is almost constantly on their face. Thanks to their cheerfulness and smiling, they look more attractive and even 5-10 years younger than their age.
3. Independence
. An optimist is always confident in himself. He does not need to rely on others or favorable circumstances. He knows that he can achieve everything on his own.
4. Initiative
. Since an optimistic person usually knows well what he wants to achieve, he always takes the initiative. He knows that the more attempts he makes, the higher the likelihood of success.
5. Have a calm reaction to troubles
. Even optimists have troubles, but they almost never get upset. Continuing to believe in success, they accept every failure as a valuable experience or challenge that can be overcome with due diligence.
6. Determination
. Since an optimist is always confident that he will achieve his goals, he does not lose motivation. Even if he fails, he chooses an alternative path and calmly continues moving.
7. Resistance to depression
. Although this sign seems obvious, not everyone pays attention to it. An optimist is a person who, even after failures, remains in a positive mood, and you most likely have never seen him in a bad mood.
8. Confidence in one's own rightness
. A characteristic feature of most optimists is self-confidence, which also includes confidence in one’s own rightness. It is indeed extremely difficult to convince them.
9. Positive reaction to change
. This is one of the most obvious signs to distinguish an optimist from a pessimist. He always rejoices at new events, even if they ruin all his plans. Any “shake-up” improves his mood and adds emotional energy to him.
10. Sanguine temperament
. Surely you know about the existence of four types of temperament, which were discovered and described by Hippocrates. Sanguine is quite easy to recognize among them. This person is always positive, energetic and friendly. Most sanguine people are naturally optimistic, and most optimists are sanguine.
The opposite of an optimist is a pessimist - a person who always builds negative scenarios in his head and underestimates the chances of success. His pessimism is most noticeable when he finds himself in the same company with an optimist. These two types react completely differently to the same things and events. Surely you know the “textbook” example of a glass that is half full for one person, and half empty for another. And this is not an exaggeration; their reaction to various circumstances almost always turns out to be the opposite.
Can they live together?
Having found out how a pessimist differs from an optimist, it’s worth saying a few words about whether they can get along under the same roof? Theoretically, of course, this is difficult to imagine, because each of these people has their own views on life.
An optimist will suppress a pessimist with his excessive energy and even irritate him. But he himself will be bored living with a pessimist, and he will always think that his partner is dragging him “down.” But, as a rule, there are many cases when these two completely different people get along under the same roof, but, of course, this cannot be done without conflicts and scandals.
Pros and cons of being an optimist
Obviously, optimism can be both useful and harmful. It adds confidence to a person, but makes him prone to impulsive actions. Sometimes this can lead to unexpected results. Let's take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of optimism.
Pros of being an optimist:
1. A positive mood has a beneficial effect on well-being
. A person's health directly depends on his mood. Research shows that extreme stress can weaken your health and make you more susceptible to illness. A good mood, on the contrary, improves health and improves immunity.
2. Optimism promotes success
. Belief in one’s own strength makes a person work more efficiently, so optimists are more productive.
3. Optimists are more likely to become leaders
. People are more willing to follow cheerful leaders than “whiners.” Pay attention to people you know who hold leadership positions. Surely most of them will be very optimistic people.
4. Cheerful people look more attractive
. Psychological research shows that people who smile are more liked. Therefore, optimists have more friends, and others treat them more favorably.
5. Optimists look younger
. Stress is an important factor in aging. And since optimists are practically not subject to stress, over the years they look younger and younger compared to their peers.
Cons of being an optimist
Of course, optimists also have disadvantages that poison the lives of not only them, but also their loved ones. Their main drawback is excessive arrogance. They believe in themselves, they believe in luck, they believe that the most favorable of all scenarios will happen. They believe in success without having the prerequisites for such confidence. As a result, both themselves and the people around them suffer.
Here it is appropriate to recall “Murphy’s Law,” which states that “if some kind of trouble can happen, it will definitely happen.” Many people think that this is simply the point of view of a typical pessimist. In practice, this law is necessary to remind people to take precautions. You should always anticipate the worst possible outcome and prepare for it. And then no circumstances will be able to interfere with the plans.
An optimist ignores Murphy's law and does not think about unfavorable scenarios at all. His arrogance can reach fantastic proportions. Of course, miracles happen, but sometimes the result is disastrous. This must be taken into account by both the optimist himself and his loved ones.
Self-confidence or rose-colored glasses
These days, so-called positive thinking is actively promoted. We are told to smile no matter what happens, to look for the good in every situation, even the worst, and not to dwell on our problems so that others will think we are coping…..
This works in certain situations. Positive thinking helps us pull ourselves together and believe in ourselves. For example, having not entered the university, an optimist will say to himself: “So what, no luck this time - better luck next time!” He will work hard even if things don't work out because he is convinced that success is achievable.
Optimists behave in the same way in their personal lives. They won't be too upset about the lack of reciprocity and will simply go looking for another relationship. Or try to make someone fall in love with you. And this strategy often works. Finally, positive people have the property that they attract us to them, which is a very valuable quality.
At the same time, optimists tend to look at the world through rose-colored glasses, and because of this, they have many problems. It is these people who often become victims of scammers - it does not occur to them that someone could do a bad thing. They are carefree and usually do not save money for old age or a rainy day.
They also tend to take out loans that they cannot pay back, invest in financial pyramids and other dubious projects. Caution is not their defining characteristic at all. Optimists rarely think about possible difficulties. They can push the problem away until it falls into place and let things take their course. Optimists do not like to go to the doctor because they believe that nothing serious can happen to them. Therefore, they often find out that their disease is already in an advanced stage.
Optimists, like other people, tend to experience sadness, melancholy and disappointment.
Types of optimism
To finally understand who an optimist is, and to understand why this word can have both positive and negative connotations, let’s consider the two groups into which psychologists divide optimistic people.
1. Rational type
. Optimists in this group are close to realists because they believe in a positive outcome, but analyze circumstances and assess risks. They do not believe in unexpected luck and do not expect a miracle. They believe in themselves and make determined efforts to improve their current situation. The rationality of his own behavior makes such an optimist happy and cheerful, therefore it is this type that usually achieves success both in the business sphere and in his personal life.
2. Irrational type
. Optimists in this group are confident in a favorable outcome, even when there is no basis for this confidence. They do not analyze the situation, do not try to optimize their actions to improve it. They are simply confident that everything will be resolved successfully. This type of optimism dulls vigilance, preventing a person from making informed and thoughtful decisions.
Is there a golden mean
Both optimism and pessimism represent a distorted perception of reality. Both types of people see the world differently from how it really is. The difference is that a pessimist sees only the bad, not noticing the good. An optimist, on the contrary, concentrates on one positive, without distinguishing between risks.
Neither of them sees the full picture, creating a one-sided view in the mind. It is as if we always use only our left hand, considering the right hand inadequate to our personal worldview or desires.
But besides these two extremes, there is also a so-called golden mean. This is the third type of worldview, which is endowed with the most optimal outlook on life. This is called realism.
A realist sees the situation as a whole: both good and evil, without ignoring or masking anything. There is a certain house of skepticism. He knows that the world is multidimensional and can present both pleasant surprises and obstacles. Such a person does not console himself with the phrase “tomorrow will definitely be better,” and does not spoil his mood with thoughts about possible misfortunes that may not happen. They objectively evaluate circumstances, people, themselves and their abilities, make decisions based on the real situation, and prefer their own reactions to events.
How to communicate with an optimist?
Optimists are very pleasant people to talk to. They are smiling and cheerful, and with their energy and optimism they can infect any interlocutor. But it is important to consider that excessive optimism is often misplaced. For example, if you start convincing a student who is about to be expelled that everything will be fine, this can lull his vigilance and significantly reduce his chances of maintaining a place at the university.
Also keep in mind that optimists tend to make rash promises. This doesn't mean they are lying. They themselves believe that they will accomplish everything. But then they don’t have enough time, energy or other resources. The result is that the optimist often has the reputation of not keeping his own promises. When communicating with an optimist, it is important to remember and take these points into account. Do not demand unnecessary promises from him and soberly assess the feasibility of joint plans, since he does not know how to do this.
To please an optimist, it is necessary to avoid things that irritate him in communication. Typically, optimists cannot tolerate despondency, doubt, uncertainty and negative forecasts. Try to be on his wavelength. Accept his worldview and act as if you are confident that events will develop in the best way. It is not necessary to give up doubts and worries. Just don't voice them.
Which view of the world is better?
There is an opinion that the best way to perceive the world is optimistic. After all, who is an optimist? This is someone who never loses heart, sees only the good sides in everything, does not think about the worst, and is able to find positive aspects in any trouble.
The importance of optimists in our lives cannot be overestimated: employers love them for their ability to forgive bullying, and for the fact that they calmly treat overtime and never escalate the situation. Colleagues - for their kindness and mutual assistance. Neighbors - for a calm atmosphere in the house. Our psyche cannot stand discomfort and tries with all its might to avoid it, so an optimist is a person whose communication evokes positive feelings. While a pessimist is the type of personality that everyone runs away from like fire: a quarrelsome, bilious, eternally dissatisfied subject, capable of ruining anyone’s mood with complaints. If you characterize a person, the word “optimist” immediately tells the interlocutor a lot due to his positive outlook on life.
