Optimism

[LrgmouthShad]

Hey y’all,

 

For the past few years, whenever I’m asked what my strengths are, I generally respond someplace with optimism. I think a lot of that trait is born out of my passion for fishing. If I was a pessimist, there’s hardly a way that I could enjoy fishing. I tell myself every day - multiple times - that I am very happy exactly where I am at, and even if circumstances worsen, I will continue to find a way to be happy.

 

Are you an optimist? If you are, how do you think you learned that trait, or were you born with it? 
 

“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be” - Abraham Lincoln

 

Lastly, I try to give thanks often that I have a pretty good life. I understand many others have it harder than I do, and that I cannot fully understand someone’s life unless I am in their shoes. 

[12poundbass]

I’ve never really been a pessimist but I wasn’t an optimist either. Things used to stress me out, drag me down, and get the best of me. Battling cancer at age 19 changed all that. Life’s too short to let things bring you down. Yes I still get stressed from time to time but it’s short lived and never ruins a day. 

[DitchPanda]

I'm getting a little more optimistic as I age, but in reality I'm a realist. Instead of thinking the worst is going to happen or things are magically going to get better for no reason, I just do my best to deal with things as they come.

[A-Jay]

Easy to be honest for me on this one.

I am an optimist who, over the course of time, has become a realist.

Realism helps make it easier to accept negative situations and move on.

(there's no emoji for that)

A-Jay

 

[gim]

I believe in preparation and controlling what you can control.  Certain variables in life are not in your control and you can't change them.  But certain variables are.  This applies in the fishing realm too.

 

I am with @A-Jay and @DitchPanda on this one.  I prefer to be optimistic and not be a Debbie downer, but you have to be realistic about it too.  Expecting to catch a new PB every time you go bass fishing is not realistic, even if you are optimistic about it.

[DitchPanda]

4 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I believe in preparation and controlling what you can control.  Certain variables in life are not in your control and you can't change them.  But certain variables are.  This applies in the fishing realm too.

 

I am with @A-Jay and @DitchPanda on this one.  I prefer to be optimistic and not be a Debbie downer, but you have to be realistic about it too.  Expecting to catch a new PB every time you go bass fishing is not realistic, even if you are optimistic about it.

I find the controlling what you can really helps acceptance and understanding of things you cant. At work we have alot of times where the plant is down because of human error, I understand how that's frustrating. When mechanical things fail, which they do and people get ticked I don't understand it. If you never want to be disappointed by things breaking you better not own a boat, vehicle, home etc.

[Bird]

Surrounding yourself with optimistic and morally sound people is a recipe for harmony.

Yes, I've always been optimistic and very slow to anger but it starts in the home.

Wife is the most laid back human I've ever met and it rubs off.

[GreenPig]

One of my fishing buds says " I'm overly optimistic, it's like I'm always casting to a school of 12 lbers". He ain't wrong. Thankfully my wife helped guide me to being optimistic many years ago.

[DitchPanda]

4 hours ago, Bird said:

Surrounding yourself with optimistic and morally sound people is a recipe for harmony.

Yes, I've always been optimistic and very slow to anger but it starts in the home.

Wife is the most laid back human I've ever met and it rubs off.

This is also me...at least the slow to anger part. Haven't always been that way, but my woman has really mellowed me out. I'm very grateful for that. Couple situations in the past few years that I walked away from that 15 years ago...hell 10 years ago...I woulda hurt somebody or got hurt myself. She's also the most caring person I've ever met, that has shown me the importance of love and compassion.

[PhishLI]

8 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Are you an optimist? If you are, how do you think you learned that trait, or were you born with it?

I'm optimistic in the sense that anything I choose to do or truly desire doing gets done. Whatever the reason, I've been able to will things into reality for the most part. I don't know whether I was born with this or not, but at least part of the dog in me was certainly made through life's trials and the will to survive. I'll leave those details out, because in the end my perception of reality and past events is dwarfed by the overwhelming fact that like every person reading this, I've won the cosmic lottery by being born when I was and where I was. God save you if you can't work with that. No person ever had or will ever have it better than we have no matter what might've occurred along the way, or what might occur going forward. Whether or not one maximizes upon this good fortune is entirely on them. Abe's quote is spot on, and being grateful is a component of happiness.

 

[Woody B]

I'm more of a realist.  An optimist sees a glass as half full.  A pessimist sees a glass as half empty.  A realist simply refills the glass.  

 

I think being an optimist is different than having a good attitude.  Several decades ago a friend of mine showed me that if you exude happiness, and confidence you'll be happy and confident.  He didn't spread discourse, or complain about stuff.  Even if it was his worst day you could say "How are you today Steve?"   He's always say "Never better my friend", or "Great, I hope you are".  

 

He explained, and I've found, that the World doesn't want to know you're having a bad day........and acting happy and friendly would actually help on a bad day.  

 

If I'm having a bad day the look on a customers, co workers or strangers face helps my mood when they ask "How are you today" and I say "Great, hope you are".    Smiles are contagious.  So are frowns.  

[Captain Phil]

I have always been an optimist.  I come from a family of optimists.  I was always told I could do or be anything I wanted and every new day is a new opportunity.  I often wonder how I accomplished some of the things I did?  No one told me I couldn't.   Being an optimist has it's downside.  You have to be realistic.  It helps if you partner with someone who is more analytical.   My wife is that person for me.  Being overly optimistic can get you in trouble.  Get good advisors.  Listen to them, but don't let them snuff out your dreams.  You can get where you want, but the road may take some unexpected turns before you get there.

[Mobasser]

On 4/29/2023 at 12:56 PM, A-Jay said:

Easy to be honest for me on this one.

I am an optimist who, over the course of time, has become a realist.

Realism helps make it easier to accept negative situations and move on.

(there's no emoji for that)

A-Jay

 

I'm like A-Jay. I'm an optimist, who's become a realist. Things will go wrong. People won't always act like you'd expect them to. Being a realist helps to deal with things.   But, I try to keep my chin up regardless.

[BrianMDTX]

I was going to be an optimist, but I failed medical school! 

[TnRiver46]

Always on the sunny side 

[Kirtley Howe]

22 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

I'm like A-Jay. I'm an optimist, who's become a realist. Things will go wrong. People won't always act like you'd expect them to. Being a realist helps to deal with things.   But, I try to keep my chin up regardless.

I am an optimist. But I am also a strong believer in Murphys Law.

[TnRiver46]

3 minutes ago, Kirtley Howe said:

I am an optimist. But I am also a strong believer in Murphys Law.

Yep. Expect the worst while hoping for the best 

[TOXIC]

If you plan for the worst, you’re never disappointed and more often delighted when it works out for the best. 

[A-Jay]

9 minutes ago, Kirtley Howe said:

I am an optimist. But I am also a strong believer in Murphys Law.

So you're a "Murphimist" then ? 

A-Jay

[Kirtley Howe]

1 minute ago, A-Jay said:

So you're a "Murphimist" then ? 

A-Jay

That is SO bad....I love it.