Am I an optimist? No.
Am I a pessimist? No.
Am I a realist? Absolutely!
It is definitely true that
optimism has its benefits, but I think it is a mistake to dismiss
pessimism. Both are beneficial in their own right; they are, after all, opposite sides of the same coin, with
realism balancing the two.
Without pessimism, optimism would have no power, and we would not know to fight against the bad things that could head our way. Without optimism, pessimism would drive out all hope, causing apathy and fatalism.
I am, naturally, reminded of the perils that we face today on this beautiful planet of ours. Optimism alone is insufficient to deal with the coming changes and crises, as it could cause us to "just know" that everything will turn out "just fine." Where as pessimism alone might cause us to throw in the towel, "just knowing" that everything is "just doomed."
With realism balancing the two opposites, I can face what was, is, and can be. With a realistic view of the past, present and future, the full spectrum of possibilities lay before me, the good, the bad and the neutral. Given an understanding of that, my path becomes more clear.
