Is it really productive to be an optimist?

Question

I define an optimist as one who consistantly estimates the probability of a positive outcome to be higher than it really is. I have always thought that having a realistic assessment is the best way to go, but it is preferable to err on the pessimistic side. I think the majority of people are optimists by my definition and suffer as a consequence. They fail in business endeavers because they don't incude in their budget the inevitable errors and accidents, they are not puntual because they don't consider that there might be a traffic jam,etc.

Answer 1

Balance?

It depends upon the job.

A salesman had better be an optimist.

A safety inspector had better be a pessimist.

Answer 2

cieloymar89.......

First of all, I think that you are Confusing the definition of Optimism with Financial Gain, which may be motivated by Greed...

The definition of "Optimism" is an outlook on life such that one maintains a view of the world as a positive place. It is the opposite of Pessimism. Optimists generally believe that people and events are inherently good, so that most situations work out in the end for the best.

Secondly, many people will say that most people are Pessimistic in Life because they confuse this word with Helplessness, which many people Feel in Life because they can't control Forces that they don't understand or is too much for them to handle....This is why People in the U.S. won't stand up to Crooked Politicians/Governments that are taking advantage of them..

Pessimism is supposed to act as a check to "Recklessness", which you are confusing with Financial Gain and Greed....They are NOT the same thing...

I think that the Word that you are Looking for is..............CAUTION

I Hope This Helps..........

Answer 3

i see most people as pessimistic. especially in the last few years in the US. its wrong.

optimism work better to me. you make it seem like an optimist just relies on hope to get through all problems. to be an optimist you have to do everything possible with the confidence and hope that it will go the right way.

Answer 4

be optimist or pessimist, it does not change the outcomes of the world. but being optimist only makes more successful to bear them and not quit hoping. but hope usually does not turns to reality.

Answer 5

we need some time to be optimist to continue in our life. optimism like dreams it nessecery to our life but not always. we need balance between reality and fantasy.