Realistic Optimism for Skeptics and Grumps
Smarter and Harder
One thing every optimist is used to hearing is a false comparison to being "realistic"
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After pointing out a negative thought or offering an alternative, you may hear someone say, "I'm not a pessimist, I'm a realist."
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It's a common refrain, and it implies that optimism is inherently unrealistic. That somehow a negative attitude is more likely to be right.
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But the delightful truth is that there's nothing in the world more realistic than optimism.
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The mind is incredibly powerful, and can go to astounding lengths to realize the world you envision.
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If you believe that the world is bad, people are bad, and only things will happen, your mind will be very efficient in proving that view right.
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But, if you focus instead on gratitude, possibilities, and the things that you love, your perspective will shift to make more room for those in your life.
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So whether you choose to look at things positively or negatively, there will always be a degree of realism to it.
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Of course, either an optimist or a pessimist can become unrealistic by over-generalizing and ignoring their reality.
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And it's true that some bad things will always happen, no matter how positive your attitude is.
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Even so, a positive attitude always builds a positive life, making realistic optimism one of the most rational things there is.
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