![]() In the face of life’s struggles and challenges, and in this pandemic context, optimism can be a gift. Even the pessimists among us can usually see the benefits of a positive posture toward the future. Further, those who tend toward optimism are also more likely to be persistent and assured in pursuing goals for the future. A quick review of psychological studies reminds us that optimistic people tend to have a higher quality of life that optimism corresponds with mental, physical and social wellbeing. The truth is, it’s hard to live without optimism. Are you optimistic we have finally flattened the curve? Are you confident there will soon be effective treatments for COVID-19? That we might see a vaccine within the year? Get back to something approaching normal life in the next two years? Maybe it’s pessimistic of me to say that!īut let’s make this a little more concrete by asking about our present pandemic moment. You occupy some place on this spectrum and there’s not much you can do to change that. Perhaps we all slide along the continuum, depending on circumstances, but our optimism quotient also seems a fairly fixed personality trait. Among my friends there is at least one eternal pessimist (with an astonishing capacity to see the worst in every situation) and a few who seem born entirely to optimism (forever confident things will be just fine). Where would you put yourself on the optimism/pessimism spectrum? I suppose I land just slightly on the optimistic side, though with serious bouts of pessimism thrown in now and again.
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