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On Pessimism

Philip

Entry posted by Philip in productivity

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To plans that never work out.

I’ve become a pessimist.

It happened in the same way that Hazel Grace Lancaster felt about sleep in The Fault in Our Stars,

slowly, and then all at once.

But I wasn’t always like this—at least, not that I remember.

There was a time when I was an optimist, when I believed in good things, in bright futures, in paths paved by the best intentions.

If you read enough self-help books growing up, you start to think that way too.

It’s not that I don’t have hope.

It’s not that I don’t wish for the best.

I do.

But I like to think I’m more grounded now, more practical. I don’t plan for the best-case scenario. I prepare for the worst.

And I think—

there’s a bit of peace in that.

But, like most things, it’s complicated.

I like to plan for the worst, the man-with-the-plan, always thinking three steps ahead.

If the worst happens? I’m ready.

If the best happens? Then it’s a pleasant surprise, something to savor, something to celebrate.

But if I were an optimist—

if I always expected good things, always counted on the best—

then wouldn’t disappointment follow me more times than I’d like?

Maybe I’ve just been disappointed too many times before.

Maybe this is just a coping mechanism, a form of protection.

I don’t know.

But I like this approach.

I like being realistic, being grounded.

The man with the plan.

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BlindRawFucker1

People have often called me a pessimist.

 

I prefer to call myself realistic or a fatalist.

 

Optimists often get disappointed.  We pessimists expect the worst, and do receive a nice surprise if something works out in our favor.  Otherwise, the hurt is expected when things go south.

 

It might be a horrible way to exist for some, but a coping mechanism for those of us who follow this prescription.

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hntnhole

"I like being realistic, being grounded."

I too think that's the best path - at least for me - as well.  

Being open to what the future brings is being a realist:  prepared to accept or do what's required to either accept or alter what we're experiencing/about to experience.  

I call it realism:  facing whatever the current situation is on any particular front without any stardust in my eyes, without any judgementalism clouding my mind.  What is, is.  The think that counts is, how we handle it first within ourselves, and then in how we transmit the situation - our m.o*. -  with others.  

*'method of operation" - (just in case) ..... 

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