5 Tips on How to stop being pessimistic

How to stop being pessimistic: In this article, we will talk about the importance and challenges of pessimistic traits. I’d like to move away from the debate of optimists vs pessimists. We should be able to appreciate both of these traits. Pessimism talks about risks and values that are most important to you. Instead of falling prey to a blame cycle, we need to use this skillset to identify and create risk mitigation methods to achieve our results.

Who is a pessimist?

The definition of a pessimist is a person who sees the negative in any situation. I find this definition of pessimist or optimist a bit separatist, but let’s humour this for a moment. Instead of labelling a pessimist, I’d suggest looking at something as a trait rather than a person.

Pessimistic behaviour refers to dwelling on negative outcomes in a situation. The danger of this pessimistic behaviour is that it is overly hinged on challenges and problems. Neither optimism nor pessimism gives us an objective view of a situation. Our task is to find out the objective view so that we can find the best route forward. Some of the common traits of a pessimist are:

• Sees the worst in every situation
• Believes that things will turn out bad
• Does not believe in the future being bright
• Tendency to focus on problems and chalelnges
• Difficulty to find hope in a situation

Of course, the characteristics of a pessimist show a rather sad perspective which sometimes makes us want to be optimists instead. Let’s not forget that pessimists have an amazing strength in identifying pitfalls. The question is – how best to use this skillset to succeed.

Difference between optimists and a pessimists

Most literature available outside will guide us to standard differences between optimists and pessimists. The moment you read that, it will feel like a sin to be a pessimist. However, I believe this is a short-sighted view. Both pessimists and optmists have a powerful outlook. Pessimists miss out on the opportunities which optimists tend to see and are excited with. Whereas optimists ignore the risks that sometimes might be glaring in front of them.

Neither trait on its own is good enough to face all the challenges that we get in our life. We need to find a good balance between these two traits to reach the outcomes that we desire. If you’re stuck in an argument of optimists vs pessimists, there’s no winning. Walk away, it is a useless conversation. For academic curiosity, the difference between optimists and pessimists are

How to stop being pessimistic?

There are 5 basic steps on how to stop being pessimistic. Again I’d like to reiterate that you don’t have to change or stop being pessimistic. This is about finding a way to move forward and use pessimism in a way that benefits you.

Identify your pattern

Any behaviour always comes down to its pattern. Observe the situations that bring out the pessimism in you. Is there a common pattern in them? What is the type of thing that makes you worry? These indicators of worry are powerful since they tell you the values that are most valuable to you. Once you know these areas, you can start working towards creating a mechanism to address this pattern to benefit you.

Look for the desired outcome

Our outcomes are the most powerful influencers. Anything new will always have its challenges. However, it will also have opportunities. A blind optimistic view of ignoring challenges doesn’t work and so is the blind pessimistic view of ignoring opportunities. We have to create an objective view that helps us solve the problems and challenges we face.

Create risk management strategy for problems

Your problems are the most important sources of truth. They are a clear warning signal that something might go wrong. It is in some ways telling you to be prepared. The same applies to fears right – fears show where you’re most unprepared. In fact, this is one of the strongest traits of a pessimist. It shows a clear indication of where things might go wrong.

Find gratitude

Thankfulness is a trait. Every situation has avenues for opportunities and risks. We can’t afford to be too biased towards one. Thankfulness helps us gain this perspective and look at opportunities that aren’t apparent. If you’re a pessimist struggling to look beyond problems, find a way to thank these problems. What are they making you think because of their presence? Are they showing you what’s most important to protect? There can be new avenues around if we look deep enough.

Create the right optimistic and pessimistic network

Your network influences your thoughts. You will need both pessimists and optimists to find an optimum solution. There are powerful traits in each individual approach that can create a beautiful balance to achieve your results. Don’t fall into the trap of the pessimist vs optimist debate. The best way to move forward is to stop questioning why you are a certain way but use it to achieve your goals.