Is your glass half full or half empty?

Do you think I can change?

from JoeUser Forums
Hi Everyone,

I'm a born pessimist. My glass is almost empty most of the time. I read this book titled Learned Optimism. It had lots of ideas for how I could change to be more optimistic. So my questions are:

1. Are you an optimist or a pessimist?
2. Do you think a pessimist, like me, can change?
11,705 views 26 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
Hmmmm.... I'm a cynical pessismist. Not only do I think things are going to go badly, I KNOW they're going to go badly ...

Optimism/pessimism is just the way that you look at life. With enough effort (or some really good pharmacuticals), almost any aspect of your personality can be modified. The level of effort involved can vary, though.

Is it worth the effort? Meh, I don't see how it'll help ... (joking). If you feel that you're being too pessismistic and it's hampering your life, go for it.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Pessimistic or optimistic - depend on levels of depression for me.

I believe you can change. Think back to a time or an incident when you did feel optimistic about something and the outcome was as you wanted it to be - a good one. Think how good you felt at the result, enjoy that feeling, relive it and make yourself want to feel it again.

Use this as an exercise when you approach something next time in a pessimistic frame of mind and see the change!

Sorry - probably poor advice but it has worked fo rme once in a while.
Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
I'm super optimistic. Occaisionally, I'll be a bit in the dumps (and that usually shows up in my writing here), but ninety-nine percent of the time I'm really optimistic. I figure that it doesn't do me any good complaining or looking at things poorly . . . doesn't change a thing.

I don't know if someone can change, though. the only really pessimistic person I know is my little sister . . . and I really don't think that she's ever going to change . . .
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
1. Are you an optimist or a pessimist? I am a pessimistic optimist.

2. Do you think a pessimist, like me, can change? I am supremely confident that you can't.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
neither, I drink from the container.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
I'm with Moderateman.  No dishes to wash then.
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
That's like the old question is it better to be pissed off than pissed on? It depends on your point of view at a given moment. Me? I hope for the best and expect the worst...
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
Depends what it is filled with. If it is medicine it is half empty if it is juice it is half full.
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top

My glass is half-full to overflowing!  I've been richly blessed in life.

Anyone can change,  the real question I think would be "do you want to change?" 

Sometimes people find a "payoff" for staying the same,  I oughta know  

change isn't easy.  It does start,  I believe,  one step at at time.

You sure don't strike me as being a pessimist

Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
I see it as just another glass that's gonna have to be washed.Does that make me a pessimist, or just someone who hates to do dishes?


Yes and Yes.
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
Pessimistic or optimistic - depend on levels of depression for me.


Me too!
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
I don't know if someone can change, though. the only really pessimistic person I know is my little sister . . . and I really don't think that she's ever going to change . . .


But does she want to change?
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
I am supremely confident that you can't.


Are you trying some reverse psychology on me
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
is it better to be pissed off than pissed on?


I've actually never heard this one before. Interesting. I think it's better to be the pisser
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
You sure don't strike me as being a pessimist

Thanks Trudy. It's nice to hear that all the work I've done over the past few years is paying off. I have, and continue to change.

I've gone from almost empty to half empty to just half a glass.
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
The key to success in life is to be neither optimist nor pessimist. Instead if your glass seems half-empty/full you should be screaming at your butler for his ineptitude. Half glasses should happen to other people.
Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top
If one filled the glass half-way, the glass must be half-full.

If one drained the glass half-way, the glass is half-empty.

Realist?

Sure you can change, you can't help it.
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
Upside: my glass is half-full.
Downside: there's something floating in my glass and I don't know what it is.
Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top
#18 by Deference
Fri, August 25, 2006 03:40 AM


If one filled the glass half-way, the glass must be half-full.

If one drained the glass half-way, the glass is half-empty.

Realist?

Sure you can change, you can't help it.


i HAVE NEVER SEEN IT PUT this way... give yourself a huge atta boy def. one of the best answers to a simple question ever!
Reply #20 from JoeUser Forums Top
I see it as just another glass that's gonna have to be washed.

Does that make me a pessimist, or just someone who hates to do dishes?


That's a realist, LW.
Reply #21 from JoeUser Forums Top
If one filled the glass half-way, the glass must be half-full.

If one drained the glass half-way, the glass is half-empty.

Realist?


This is utterly brilliant. I hope you don't mind if I use it. And if you do, too bad, not like anyone here can stop me, mwahahahahaha. That is of course unless you pay an absurd ransom.
Reply #23 from JoeUser Forums Top
What San Chonino said! We look at life in the same way Braeden! And a bit of realist thrown in there!

So that makes me an optimisticpartdoldrumsrealist? LOL!
Reply #24 from JoeUser Forums Top
So that makes me an optimisticpartdoldrumsrealist? LOL!


Dare you to say that ten times fast, Donna!   
Reply #25 from JoeUser Forums Top
Dare you to say that ten times fast, Donna!


I'm not sure I could say it once slowly!