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There is a sliding scale between optimism and pessimism. A pessimist would say that they are just realistically looking at the world. An optimist would probably say something very similar. Where is the sweet spot on the scale? Is being a realist a bad thing?

Before we move further, I’d like to define some terms before going through an argument. That way we are speaking the same language when we have conversations to know what each other mean. Let’s face it, communication is hard.

According to Oxford Languages from Google:

Optimist: a person who tends to be hopeful and confident about the future or the success of something.

Realist: a person who accepts a situation as it is and is prepared to deal with it accordingly.

Pessimist: a person who tends to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen.

When It’s Good to Be an Optimist

Being optimistic can be admirable. In light of all of the bad things in the world right now, it can be tough to be hopeful about the future. The optimist in us will look at the bright side of things. They will focus on important people and experiences in our lives that we need to be reminded of.

Everyone needs an optimist in their life. These people are the ones that say, “It’s not so bad”. Or can go into any difficult situation and say, “We can do this!” Even when we are staring down an impossible situation, I am reminded of a Muhammad Ali quote.

Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.

Muhammad Ali

Thinking about how much hardship Muhammad Ali went through it get to the pinnacle of a sport in a time of so much conflict is inspiring in itself. So when I hear him say, “Impossible is nothing”, I have to go back and think if he can say that in the middle of his adversity, I can find a way through mine.

This belief can turn into great confidence. And this confidence can push us through the tough moments in our lives where the difference between success and failure live.

When It’s Good to Be a Pessimist

Being pessimistic can be helpful. When we think about how things can go wrong, we begin to plan how to mitigate those potential outcomes. Pessimists help us understand that it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. I have to admit, sometimes situations really suck.

When the pessimist points that out, it can be okay. Every day can’t be the best day of our life. Some days, we have to put in the hard work and grind out a win.

These days and these people shouldn’t be shied away from or shunned. They are needed and help keep the dilutional optimists in check. But there is a place for a middle ground

When It’s Good to Be a Realist

Being a realist is pragmatic. A realist takes all emotion out of it and objectively assesses the situation to determine how to move forward. Level-headed thinking is their most powerful quality.

In the heat of the moment, these people are the ones that tell it how it is. Whether it is good or bad, we count on these people to bring us back to Earth. They usually play the role of devil’s advocate, arguing with anyone that takes one side or the other.

While an optimist’s hope is not necessarily based on fact, a pessimist usually is only looking at the worst in things. The realist takes these irrational traits out of the equation and works to figure out the solution. That’s what makes being a realist so hard.

So Who Should We Be?

Humans are inherently emotional and irrational. We tend to swing back and forth between optimism and pessimism. Some people are more optimistic than pessimistic but we all can be both at one time or another.

As an engineer, I am trained to think about problems in a purely objective way. When we build a bridge or a building, it will stand or it won’t. That is not a matter of hope, it’s a matter of physics. Like all sciences, physics doesn’t take emotion into consideration in its laws.

The difference I am proposing is that when we try to solve a hard problem, run into a tough situation, or are just having a bad day, we should try to be more optimistic than pessimistic.

It is healthy to be realistic in that situation. After that point, we can choose our emotional response. That is very powerful and is the choice that sets us on a path of hope or anxious worrying.

We are in control of our emotions. Looking at the situation as an optimistic realist is, in my opinion, the most optimal outlook. We can solve any problem we put our minds to. Like Muhammad Ali says, “Impossible is nothing.”