It’s been a long time since we’ve been hit by so much negative news at once: pandemics, war, climate change, rising costs, and everyone has their own personal baggage to carry. One can only become pessimistic … Or is it important to remain optimistic with all these worries, because otherwise one would only live in constant fear and dissatisfaction?
In fact, both seem to have their pros and cons. Pessimists believe that their negative expectations protect them from disappointments in life and that they are better prepared for emergencies. That sounds only reasonable in the current situation. Optimists, on the other hand, see themselves as artists of life. Assume the best and when things go wrong, they find a piece of gold even in the worst of situations. That also sounds like a strategy that we can use right now.
But what do the experts say: With which strategy do we actually get through life better?
BZ asked the Berlin motivational trainer Christian Weilmeier. “Both optimism and pessimism, in their extreme forms, are harmful to us. The blind belief that everything will always turn out well is just as destructive as believing that you are unlucky,” explains the expert. Rather, life is about learning from experience and constantly adjusting your expectations. To develop a kind of healthy optimism or pessimism. Anything else won’t get us any further in the long run.
Christian Weilmeier: “Blind optimists often outsmart themselves, hide their feelings and dare to do the unrealistic. They see even the empty glass as half full. In the worst case, this can lead to a loss of reality. Blind pessimism, on the other hand, often leads to a self-fulfilling prophecy. And makes even competent people appear far too insecure or become completely inactive out of sheer fear. Your glass, which is actually full, becomes empty because of your own behavior.”
So how do you develop healthy optimism or pessimism?
► Learn from mistakes
Failed exam, failed business idea, failed relationship? It doesn’t help either to say: “Think positively, next time it will work!” or to believe that it was all predictable anyway, because you’re never lucky. It’s better to ask yourself: What were the mistakes, how will it work next time? In what area exactly do I never seem to get lucky and can I change my strategy?
► Consider probabilities
Probabilities are an important indicator of healthy optimism or pessimism. For example: What is the probability of catching Covid outside in the park? You can be optimistic that it won’t happen. Or: How high is the probability of getting a job without appropriate qualifications? You can rightly be pessimistic before an interview.
► Assess your own abilities correctly
Anything is possible in life if you just believe in it? Eh, no. Rather, it is important to assess your own abilities correctly in order to approach things realistically. Even big dreams need a ladder with manageable steps.
► Do I have experience?
Experience is also important: If you have already done something before, you can be more optimistic that it will work again the next time. If it hasn’t worked before, go to point 1.
► Find out more, but don’t stuff yourself
Anyone who is watching the news non-stop is stuffing themselves full with information that they can no longer properly classify at some point. Some people become downright addicted to updates. Once a day is enough! In this way you keep your brain memory free for everyday life and do not fall into an endless pessimism loop.
