Optimism vs Pessimism

This was the difference between me and my husband.

And it IS a choice.

That doesn't mean it's as easy as choosing, but it does mean every step you take is down one or the other path, and you can choose each step.

Pessimism is seeing bad things as Personal and Permanent. Reverse for good things.

Optimism is the opposite: bad things are caused by things that are external and changeable/fixable.

Optimism looks at the journey to improvement.

Pessimism is *solution avoidance*.

My optimism has been a Light that I shine in the world.

A light that tends to make those around me happier, and more hopeful.

I love shining this light, and bringing out that happiness in each person I touch.

But with my husband (and even my kid) that Light doesn't have this effect.

He thinks it's me trying to tell him how to feel.

But it's me trying to help him see the beauty in the world by calling attention to it.

Pessimism also seems to be involved in *heirarchy*.

He thinks I think I'm better than him. I don't feel that way at all.

I look at our sameness, not our differences.

Optimism might also be that: looking for sameness, working to achieve sameness by learning or teaching.