Which is more realistic, a cynical outlook, or a Pollyanna outlook?

Question

Think about your life. Do things tend to work out, or not to work out?
I ask because people say "That's realistic" when describing terrible things. The inspiration for this question came from Susan Jeffries' book, "Feel you fear and do it anyway."

Answer 1

Any psychology student will tell you that your outlook has a great influence on your interpretation of reality. It's a "self-fulfilling prophecy." So, if you tend to be cynical and pessimistic, then you will automatically notice the bad things more, and the world will seem like a bad place. If you tend to be optimistic and "pollyanna," then you will focus more on the good things, and then world will seem a better place to you.

If I listed everything that happened to me in the past year, it would include both bad and good things... the "reality" is that I CHOOSE to give certain things more importance than others, or interpret things according to my outlook, and that determines my reality. For example, getting laid off was bad, but I was freed from working at a place that made me unhappy in many ways, so that was good. And if I hadn't been laid off, I would never have heard about, and gotten, a wonderful new job, so that's very good.

Ultimately, a "pollyanna" outlook is more practical, because studies have shown that positive thinking tends to keep people alert to opportunities, and they therefore "allow" good things to happen to them.

Answer 2

Realism depends on your belief system as that is what creates your world (thoughts have energy, and the thoughts you think out of habit are what create your realities). If you have a cynical outlook, you have a cynical belief system, and that will be your reality. If you have a Pollyanna outlook, you probably have optimistic beliefs, and those will be your realities.

Answer 3

I think reality is different for each person, depending upon how they see the world. So to answer your question each view can be the most realistic, it just depends on how you choose to respond.

I'm sure you can think of situations where you've thought things will go wrong and they have, and situations where you feel that everything is going perfectly and it does.

I've read that book and others and they all say similar things. So whatever happens stay positive and find the good in every situation.

Answer 4

i think if you have the pollana outlook things tend to turn out better than if you have a cynical outlook and anyway who wants to be miserable all the time remember the saying smile and the whole world smiles with you

Answer 5

Thinking about my way of life, my answer to your outlook question will have to be Microsoft

Answer 6

I find that Mircosoft Outlook is best for me

Answer 7

A little of both.