Can Being A Bit More Pessimistic Make You More Happier?

Question

ive been trying it. i find i became more accepting of people and their ********. it doesnt bother me as much anymore.

i just stand by my saying "humans are generally stupid" its not that i think low of people, i just know what to expect

Answer 1

It's called tolerance. You no longer expect people to act as you would have them act. You are allowing people to be themselves.

Answer 2

Optimism and pessimism both have their ups and downs. Optimists look foward to everything and always think the best will happen. When the best doesn't happen, and instead the outcome is bad, they are dissapointed. Pessimists don't look foward to much and generally accept what happens. With this outlook on life, you are dissapointed a lot less, but never have the joy of looking foward to anything.

I have choosen to live my life as an optimist and I couldn't be happier. People wonder how I keep a positive attitude even after being let down (which does happen) again and again, but it's just a matter of realizing that nothing will go your way 100% of the time, and accept it. But, being an optimist I have found that good things happen more often because I am thinking positive and am willing to work hard. Even when I am let down, I was still happy and hopeful previously. Also, say you are getting braces and have heard it is going to be painful. In the months before you could worry yourself to death thinking that you are going to be in so much pain and how you're going to get through it. Or, you could realize that the amount of pain you experience isn't going to be any less if you worry about it, and choose to spend that time happy and not worrying about it. Some people may say that by worrying about it you are preparing yourself for it and therefore are more ready for the pain. But who says you can prepare and be happy at the same time? It's all about how you look at life.

Answer 3

None of us has the right to look into the lives of other people and make a judgment on them, but we can use a common sense kind of judgment to avoid them, if they appear to be a source of trouble.

By being a pessimist about the motives of people around you, you won't be as likely to be suckered in by con artists we all deal with at home and in the work place. It's called being rude shrewd.

If more women, particularly young women, would be less friendly (rude shrewd) to strangers, we wouldn't be hearing about their disappearances and bodies found along side rail road tracks or other remote locations as often.

In these times, pessimism is keeping the smart people alive and a whole lot wealthier because we live in truly increasingly violent times.

Answer 4

you will be happiest if your expectations are in line with reality.
if you were overly optimistic before, and kept getting disappointed then yes, you can be happier by lowering expectations. however
if you get so pessimistic you're out of line with reality you will be unhappy too and can get happier by increasing your expectations.
the happiest place is exactly in tune with reality (like how other people really are and not how you want them to be as you have found.

Answer 5

You're distancing yourself from people, which probably gives the illusion that you've got things under control, for yourself.

I would suggest, however, that this distancing -- the judgmental, ironic, critical stance -- is exactly what makes most of us miserable.

You'll live in a bubble -- in your own little world. You'll know nothing true about others, and -- by extension -- about yourself.

Answer 6

that may not be an example of "pessimism", at all, subject to the discussion, below. so, don't be too self critical about it. as a matter of fact, i would view this approach as being more detached and tolerant, which is, actually, a more *mature* method of dealing with all beings. however, i would add one "caveat" and "step" to your method: don't *expect* people to be less "bearable" than you hoped for. as a matter of fact, expect nothing in particular. then, whatever their ("unpleasant") behavior, be detached, don't take it personally, and be tolerant. such behavior on your part, then, would be applauded by buddhist "masters" everywhere. ;-)

Answer 7

Understanding how things are would work, but pessimistic just means you're depressed.

Answer 8

I really doubt it?