do u feel that a person should ALWAYS be optimistic? even when faced with a negative situation?

Question

is so why...? isnt it like if ur mad at a situation, you are mad. and being optimistic about a situsation is just a superficiality to the plain and simple fact that you are mad?

isnt it harmful to bottle up feelings of hatred or being upset etc...

because im an optimistic person, when i find myself in a bad situation or mad, i actually enjoy being mad for a change, and i hate it when ppl tell me to be optimistic because IM ALWAYS OPTIMISTIC, except fro certain situation where i feel that being mad lets me release everything thats bottled up, im not a pessimist because i dont continue to be mad after it happens

Answer 1

Optimism does not necessarily mean absence of anger.
I believe that we should be realistic instead of optimistic or pesimistic. I tend to tell people to be optimistic only to raise them from sadness and later, tell them to rethink realistically.

Answer 2

Ideally, you should try to be optimistic & see the positive side of everything but this isn't always easy. It isn't healthy to bottle up or mask your feelings. I guess the important thing is not to let emotions get the better of you. Don't be superficial & hide your emotions, just don't get carried away with anger, etc. Don't indulge in negative emotions, try to control them & turn them into a positive. Rather than blowing up, you could try to take deep breaths, count to ten etc until the anger starts to subside. Whatever you're angry about, there is probably a solution, something constructive that you can do. Just getting angry doesn't really accomplish anything.

Anyone can be optimistic when faced with a positive situation (ok maybe not everyone! Some people will ruin even a good thing) The real challenge is to be optimistic when faced with a negative situation. Remember every crisis is an opportunity, a challenge. A chance to learn & grow.

Ok, easy for me to say, hard to do! Good luck!

Answer 3

I think these are different situations and call for different emotions. Even the most optimistic person in the world can be hurt but situations or people. The true difference is how you react to the situation. Anger is fine, violence is not. A pessimist would hold on to the anger no matter what the alternatives are, an optimist would even though angry, find a positive way to deal with the issue. Just remember an optimist isn't void of feelings.

Answer 4

I do feel that an optimistic attitude is better than the alternative.

I can't speak for other people. I try to have an optimistic attitude whenever I can, however I have a lot more inner healing to do before I can get to where I am able to be optimistic everytime I want to.

This is a very good question. I am working on this very thing in my life right now.

I do not believe justifiable anger is the opposite of optimism. Sometimes I use my anger to make a positive difference in a negative situation. Justifiable anger is a very healthy and balanced thing.

Yes it is very harmful to bottle up feelings when we are upset. Hate is always harmful bottled up or not. Hate leads to a lack of understanding and sometimes comes from a lack of understanding and other negative things.

Thanks for asking. This question is very refreshing.

Answer 5

Optimism can be misconcieved as overt happiness. Not all optimists are happy, nor do they avoid normal emotions such as anger or grief or confusion. Optimism is a frame of mind, when despite the emotions involved with an event or mood, individuals are able to look at a situation and see its possible benefits, how the bad can be good. I think optimism can be interchanged with realism, and pessimism. Its extremely difficult to maintain optimism, to remain hopeful. I don't believe a person should be 100 % optimistic, but they should atleast attempt to see what is good about a situation. Atleast that much.

Answer 6

Given your question, I don't think you understand what optimism is: it's an explanatory style. So, when something happens to an optimist, she thinks, "This is temporary; it's not about me as a person; and it applies only to this situation". In other words, she gets over it quickly and goes into problem solving mode in order to prevent the issue from repeating. The pessimist, on the other hand, explains negative events as, "It's about me as a person; bad things always happen; and it's going to affect everything I do". Not very useful, and not very realistic. Luckily, people can change their explanatory styles to become happier and more productive.

Answer 7

i absolutely agree with u ...when u r mad, it doesn't mean that u r not optimistic...some people simply think that being optimistic means being happy..which even annoys me sometimes...u know how many times i have heard 'oh dont be sad, try to be optimistic'...which is totally wrong because being happy is only possible when u r completely stupid and don't think at all...while it is impossible to be happy all the time, it is possible to stay positive, stay optimistic and think that things will get better in the future...and yes i believe that we should always be optimistic...i even think that we all r no matter what others claim to be...because optimism is hope and life is just impossible without it...hope drives all of us to keep going..

Answer 8

According to Spinoza, you should always be content with the way things are. We should be because it is Gods Volition at will. Everything is happening for a reason, and no matter what you chose just before your 'negative situation' you could never have experienced different for it was the destiny of what is, that is. What happens does for it is the best of all possible outcomes, and God makes it so. You may not understand why, or how, and that is just because you can not reason as well as God, and you never will. You just need to trust that it is the best possible outcome, and it was the destiny of the monads to do so. I don't want to get too into how his destiny and monads work, but it does make sense when you read it. You will be truly happiest when you know that everything is done for a reason, and then you will never be unhappy. (according to Spinoza... not me!!)

Answer 9

I feel a person should not try to see a situation as neither positive or negative...just accept all things ..for instance you get a flat tire on the way to work....is it negative or did you miss being in an accident up the road...its the mind that decides one way or the other...true peace is being neither optimistic or pessimistic..its simply being.

Answer 10

YES. Especially when faced with a negative situation. Optimism (positivism) facilitates your ability to cope rationally, wisely. Anger is a WASTED emotion. When it's said that such emotions shouldn't be "bottled up"--this is just an excuse for reacting in a destructive, immature way. Anger only hurts YOU & resolves nothing. Being "optimistic" opens doors for options, alternatives.
It's really quite "healthy"! Go ahead & be "mad" if you want to, it's your choice. Certainly not mine, ever.

Answer 11

I don't like to be mad. My husband and son doesn't like it when I'm mad either. My anger can build quickly so I've taken steps to change that pattern. I like to imagine that there is an angel on one shoulder and a demond on the other. In stead of being mad at whatever triggered my anger, I get mad with the demond by telling him that he can't control me. I always invision him as laughing at my anger and jumping up and down. I then look over at the angel and try to find a positive solution to change the senerio. By the time my mind has went through these quick mental conversations I've already begun to cool down. It makes me feel like a winner ever time. Praise the Lord!