When I asked you a while back if you were a pessimist or an optimist, most of you owned up to being a realist, but now that the going is getting tough and life feels grim, I'm wondering if you're finding yourself being more pessimistic. If this sounds familiar, you might want to know that according to a recent study, optimistic women actually live longer, so it's time to look at that glass as half full, not half empty!
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh looked at more than 100,000 women over age 50 and found that after eight years, optimistic women were 14 percent more likely to be alive over the pessimists they studied. Though many factors played into those results, Dr. Hilary Tindle, who headed this study, stated:
. . . optimistic people have more friends and a larger social network on which they can rely during crises; they also tend to cope better on their own with stress, a risk factor that has been associated with high blood pressure, heart disease and early death in previous studies.
I think it's pretty obvious that looking on the bright side makes everything a lot easier, but tell me, are you struggling to do that now with so much uncertainty in the air?









Rocket Dog
Sessun
DC
I'm def more pessimistic... and its killing me slowly....
1I've always been more of a pessimist than an optimist.
2I've always been more an optimist, but I think I'm more realist now. I call it how I see it, if a future in whatever or a future of whatever looks bright, I will say it. But that doesn't mean I'm optimistic about it. If I say something looks bad or might be bad, that's not being pessimistic. I weigh things and decide if I believe it will turn out good or bad.
I always try to look on the bright side no matter what. In regards to our country, I would like to believe we're not screwed, so I think about how many times it's happened before that in some way the US has been screwed over, and things turned out okay. Nothing is permanent, and we're not doomed for destruction. I guess that can be considered optimistic, but then again, I'm just being real in the way I see things.
3I've always been more pessimistic/realist, and it's actually kept me pretty sane and healthy. The economy hasn't changed that, really. We suffer sometimes for a reason, and I've embraced that.
My bright sides are "oh, well, at least ABSOULTE WORST THING didn't happen..." - that's kind of optimistic in a sense, right?
4I go back and forth. I try to be positive and make decisions based on that, but I'm very much a realist. The two are linked, actually. I try to be realistic about situations, then focus on positive steps to take. With that said, methinks we're looking at a U-shaped recession. Not much to love about that.
5I'm 100% optimist.
6Used to be an optimist, and I talked to lots of people, was very happy. Turned pessimistic, and I started withdrawing, felt more depressed, and nothing worked out for me in life. Now I'm an optimist again, and I talk people start flooding back to me, I'm happier, and whenever I have that optimist mood, stuff seems to slowly work out better! Only...with this recession crap, and rarely any phone calls or interviews, and bills piling up like Jenga, I'm still optimistic!
7I like to call myself a pessimistic optimist. Like, I have high hopes for the future and everything; I don't automatically conclude my life is destined to suck.. but I've always got this attitude that it will just in case everything fails so I'm well-prepared. Weird, I know. I've been really lost lately though, not even a smidge of optimism.
8I'm a bit more on the pessimist side. I try to think "happy thoughts" but sometimes it's best to not assume everything will turn out okay because sometimes it just doesn't.
9I either/or, but lately the economy has definitely burst my bubble.
10*I'm
11I am working my butt off to be optimistic lately. It usually doesn't take much work. Hooray for yoga, meditation, and running I suppose.
12Nope, I've always made the best out of every situation.
13I've always been very optimistic, but my husband's definitely a pessimist and sometimes his attitude rubs off on me. I still always try to look on the bright side of things and count my blessings.
14I have never been more of an optimist than right now! Seriously, for years I basically look at my bank account with a sad face and get depressed everytime I i check the mail and see another bill in there. This is the first time since I graduated that I'm actually glad I don't have enough money to invest!
Also, since I have been frugal and on a budget for years, I feel like I'm one step-ahead.
15I'm an optimist by nature--I can't help it!
16I'm optimistic as hell... but I don't have a lot of friends (by choice, i like a few really close ones)... I'm always 'an exception' to most of these "studies"... I am great with stress though... but thats because I'm optimistic! .. hmph.
17I'm not pessimistic or optimistic I'm a realist!!
18I'm an optimist. I believe that everything will be great in my life, that I deserve to be happy and that everything that's happening happens for my benefit. That kinda is my religion!
19Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.