Do you hang around people that are Pessimists or Optimists?

Question

They say the company you keep that their feelings are contagious ............

Answer 1

I`ve never thought about it really and I can`t say it would make much difference. I have quite a strong personality and tend to be eh a bit `hyper` now and then, which annoys some folk but whatchyagonnado? I do believe there are emotional vampires out there who steal your energy without saying anything at all.

Answer 2

Both. my life is full of people who live in a fantasy and cannot see reality for what it is. They are more optimistic than they should be. I live with realists who appear pessimistic, when they are truly seeing life for what is it and nothing more. I would say I am an optimist with my eye on reality and trying not to be negative, b/c negative people end up lonely and sad.
The feelings are contagious. I'm a piscean, so I'm always in a constand state of change to begin with. I re-invent myself regularly and I absorb the emotions around and since I find myself with different people all day long, I try to let go quickly of other's emotions and find my own peace, b/t interfering emotions.
Though feelings are contagious, you can choose to feel happiness. You can be joyful in times of struggle as well as times of triumph. You can also project your feelings and be contagious to others. Promote happiness. Reduce sadness.

Answer 3

Rena

I tend to shy away from pessimistic people. I rather be around optimists. However, the world is full of both, we cannot always choose who we are with at all times. By avoiding pessimists maybe we are not being too 'Universal'. By this I mean, that since we are all a part of this Universe perhaps we can influence the 'negative' people and help them be more 'positive'.

Thank you for yet another wonderful question.

Answer 4

Hi Rena,
It's so very true that eventually, no mater how hard you try not to let it affect you, other people's feelings do affect you. I try so hard to be optimistic, to look on the bright side and this attitude has helped me get a lot done in life. I try to inspire those who are less motivated but many of the friends I have had in life have been the opposite to optimistic and there comes a time when their negative outlook does start to affect me too. That's when I have to take a step back to recharge my emotional batteries.
Most of the 'how to be assertive' and self improvement books say: mix with positive optimistic types if you want to be happy and successful. They're probably right.
At the same time I like to 'be there' for those who need a little uplift and as long as the balance is kept in relationships it's good to help them be more positive.
Pollyanna

Answer 5

Optimists all the way...and I come from a long line of them too! I have one great friend who just married a real pain-
in the backside pessimist and now that the love drug's
wearing off, she's kind of stuck. All he does is complain
and think the worst is always going to happen..."what if a
hole opens up tomorrow and swallows us all up", or
(because we've had horrible fires in Calif...6 hours South
of here)...we need triple the insurance we have and I
think I saw a couple of dried pine needles on the roof and
I hope it doesn't spread up here"...yada yada yada....it
must be like living in an episode of Seinfeld. We're more
from the "make the best from what you've got with no
complaining" school...but most of the time we're having
so much fun nothing else matters much. Usually, optimists
like to hang out with other optimists as we're fuel for each
other's fire..

Answer 6

"As a truly self-serving narcissistic pessimist, I hang around with absolutely no-one, not even other self-serving narcissistic pessimists. It's me and only me!" LOL

All kidding aside, I say it's best to be able to deal with both types. You enlighten and lift the spirits of the pessimists while learning some enlightenment, onself, from other optimists. The feelings alone are not always contagious, but the experience gained from such interactions is valuable for one to be better prepared for similar future encounters.

Answer 7

i'm the eternal Optimist! there is often some thing good on the way, and at last, it gets here, by utilising His grace! This became an rather good occasion of pessimist vs. optimist. So genuine to existence.

Answer 8

A little bit of both, but I prefer to hang around people that are realistic.. Optimists and pessimists are never realistic.

Answer 9

Would you hang around people that are Pessimists? or Optimists? I would rather have friends that are optimists, who look at Life with hope and laughter, than people who are very negative, when you are around this people, they usually bring you down.

Answer 10

I've got 2 pessimists that I cannot delete. The others, chosen, are optimists.