how can you deal with a pessimist?

Answer 1

I've dealt with this in jobs before, and in one relationship. There are five fingers on the hand, as one person told me. If it is truly important to you in changing this persons behavior, you should try to find out what makes this person pessimistic. It's quite possible they could just be trying to make you laugh. So, there is your key to the success in your question, discernment of reasons behind this pessimism, and then action. Good Luck

Answer 2

Seriously, would anyone want a world with no pessimists? Think about it! How many of you are "not morning people"... well... to a "morning person" you seem like a sure pessimist right in the early morning. When you are feeling a tad under the weather or unhappy about anything... think about how annoying it is to have someone completely excited and bubbly right then - you'd want to smack the bubbliness out of them! So sometimes we need a pessimist to take our side when we are feeling grumpy or down... and sometimes we need an optimist to either bring us up or enjoy the wonders of life with.... and most people (you may be different) need one some of the time and the other some of the time... too much of either one would make you sick to your stomach. Also, even though one person may more often be optimistic than not and other person may more often than not be pessimistic, it is usually hard to find anyone who is always one or the other... so the next time you are annoyed with a bubbly optimist or the next time you want to change a pessimist, realize that you are also talking about yourself - others in your life will see you at certain moments in exactly the same way you see them.

Answer 3

I am one and we can be extremely difficult to deal with. Speaking personally I am a pessimist because I have underlying problems that I am currently dealing with. I think it's that way for most extremely pessimistic people. Try to understand that they don't mean or want to be that way. That's all you can really do.

Answer 4

Ask him to explain why pessimism is not a self-fulfilling prophecy mechanism.

He may deny he is a pessimist at all, but simply a realist. Ask him if, as a realist, he feels more in control of his destiny than not. If he chooses "not," tell him he has defined himself as a pessimist.

Simply put, the best "cure" for pessimism is to recognize it and try to counter the emotional thinking that it represents by logical argument from one's rational brain.

Getting the person to recognize that it's a problem is the hardest part, but if they trust your judgment, they will start to consider the possibility, and start to consider your suggestions on how to counter it as well.

In many cases, a person who doesn't mind being considered a pessimist will mind very much being considered illogical in the bargain.

Answer 5

First, make sure that they're not just realists (which require a totally different response)

Then, ask them why they're so pessimistic and show them the way to look at a glass half-full. It usually gets to them and they walk away.

Answer 6

keep telling them how great it is that they're a pessimist, be sure to provide a list of all of the postive aspects of being so negative...eventually they'll get annoyed and go away :P

Answer 7

Not easy, the way i did it was to point out the negative effect pessimism has on the life of the person you are trying to deal with....at the end of the day its the way you think that will affect the decisions and outcome of choices in your life....this is what they need to realise...

Answer 8

Oh, dear... That's just a button waiting for me to push. I shall have to walk away from the question. ; )

Edit: Kapute, they amuse me, as well. But I wind up torturing them by discussing all the un-Eeyore things in life.

Answer 9

the best way is to show them the good side of life,that one that they cannot see

Answer 10

pessimists amuse me, actually