The Power of Perspective
Some days I think that life is good, very good indeed! Other days, life is a b#@$%, and then you die. It is not always sunshine and roses. Sunshine, when it graces us with its presence, can at least help convince us that life is indeed good. On the other hand, being candid about how life is often tough and temporary, can make it easier to move on and cope without getting stuck at a pity party.
Self-awareness and perspective have the power to change how you view and interact with the world.
I used to think I was a pessimist because I accepted that there will be difficult, horrible, and unpleasant life events for which there is little to be done. Now, I have reshaped my opinion and I describe myself as a realist. I prepare for the worst, and then I know I can handle anything life throws at me. As I have learned from experience, sometimes you get hit with hard knocks. This way of framing my expectations also gives me the opportunity to be pleasantly surprised when something is not ridiculously terrible and dramatic.
I suppose whether one considers me to be an optimist, or a pessimist, is a matter of one's own perspective. I am not particularly partial to either designation. Or, perhaps I am too capricious fluctuating back and forth according to my current whims. One could say that translates into my being a pessimist when it suits me, and an optimist when it serves a purpose. If I am worried that there is a possibility that things will get tough, I opt for pessimism. If I am trying to boost my or others’ morale, I go for optimism. The reality is that either perspective serves a purpose.
Whether you consider yourself to be a pessimist, optimist, realist, or morph between them to suit your current need is rather irrelevant. What matters is that whatever perspective you hold, it is one that helps you cope rather than be hindered. Self-awareness and perspective have the power to change how you view and interact with the world. Choose wisely.