Most of us proudly proclaim to be one or the other.
We identify as an optimist or a pessimist. In personality testing I’ve profiled as a ‘blind optimist’!
Identity is a powerful thing. Someone who sees themselves as an athlete is more likely to have healthy habits than someone who sees themselves as a couch potato.
However, when it comes to thinking, identity can also limit us.
The benefits of optimism are numerous, health, happiness, relationships.
But this doesn’t mean pessimist doesn’t have its place; it’s perfect for identifying risks, for taking precautions, for preparing.
So perhaps instead of ‘being’ an optimist or a pessimist, we would be better to apply optimistic thinking and pessimistic thinking in the right situations.
And our thinking becomes a tool, not a way of life.