#8 Optimism vs Pessimism

Optimism can be described as a tendency to expect good things to happen in the future, or to view success as the likely outcome in most situations.

It is a concept that has been widely studied and the research points to several benefits for those who adopt an optimistic mindset. Neuroscientist Tali Sharot, from University College London, suggests that optimism can be linked to greater levels of happiness, better health outcomes, improved performance and higher resilience in the face of challenges.
​

So how do you know if you are an optimist or a pessimist? 
 
One way to find out, is to reflect on how you respond in the face of negative or challenging events.​Typically, our response in these situations can be categorised in three dimensions:

1. Personal - How much of it was down to me?

2. Permanent – Will this be long lasting, or will it pass?

3. Pervasive – Is the impact of this event limited to one aspect of my life or will it affect everything?

​​Optimists will usually respond to a negative event by accepting responsibility only for the part they played in it (Personal). They will recognise that the impact of the event will pass (Permanent), and they understand that they will only be impacted in this one area of their life (Pervasive). When faced with the same events, pessimists will tend to overstate the extent to which they caused it (Personal), believe it will have long reaching negative consequences (Permanent) and tend to view it as undermining everything (Pervasive).
 
Pro Tip: The next time you experience a setback or a negative event, use the 3P framework to check if you are adopting an optimistic or pessimistic mindset. Awareness is the most important first step in shifting our mindset in a positive direction.