In Defense of Optimism

11/11/2010

The visions we offer our children shape the future. It matters what those visions are. Often they become self-fulfilling prophecies. Dreams are maps.
Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot

"In Defense of Pessimism" was the topic of the ExchangeEveryDay for October 25. To offer a balanced view, here are some insights on the value of optimists taking from the Ode Magazine (September 2010) feature comparing optimists and pessimists...

"Optimism can protect against depression and anxiety disorders and promote emotional resilience. Optimists are physically healthier than pessimists, and they recover faster from conditions like heart disease. Optimism can help us cope more effectively with stress, and affects the immune system in ways that are largely beneficial. Plus, most people prefer the company of optimists. Compared with pessimists, they have more friends and are more likely to have wide social networks, which confer additional health benefits."

Editor's Note: Our company includes both optimists and pessimists and I think that is good. If everyone on our staff always saw only the bright side of new ideas, we would have made some really big mistakes. The pessimists on staff force us to look at both the upside and the downside of every decision.

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