To understand optimism better, let’s examine pessimism a bit more closely. Pessimism is defined as the tendency to see or expect the worst aspects of all things and expecting bad or unpleasant things to happen.

Having said that, is it bad to be pessimistic? Are there times when it is the best way to look at a situation? To some extent, looking at the possible negative outcomes can be helpful. If we acknowledge all possible results or consequences, we can prepare ourselves for any emotional fallout as well as develop a game plan. Being ready for life events can decrease our stress and help us feel more confident. In a round-about way, anticipating negative events can help us be more optimistic due to increased confidence that we are prepared and have the skills and tools needed to handle many situations.

So, be a pessimist to get more optimistic? Not really, but it is important to have balance in how we view our world and ourselves. Either extreme carries a price. The key is to know where you are coming from and what is influencing how you are viewing the situation.

So we know that optimism has many benefits, both physical and emotional, that it can be a conscious choice to be optimistic, that there are many concrete things we can do to increase optimism, and that it’s a good thing to balance it with some pessimism. I hope that’s a lot more you know now about optimism than when this month began.

But that’s not all there is to this whole topic. Cultivating optimism has, I believe, only positive results. But it does take patience, as is true with developing any habit. Learning new behaviors takes time, judgment, and practice. If optimism is worth learning, it’s worth the time and patience required. There are lots of pay-offs in store. So while you’re working on it, remember to do a few simple things daily:

* Smile a lot!
* Look at mistakes as opportunities to learn valuable lessons.
* Be kind to yourself and others. Usually we’re all doing the best we can at any given time.

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George "Bud" Wassell, MS, LPC, CEAP
Director, Solutions EAP
213 Court Street
Middletown, CT 06457
800-526-3485
fax: 860-704-6221
www.solutions-eap.com