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In my heart wakeupcall, I want to be a 10 with Optimism, but every day, in many ways, I feel forced to go down the road of Pessimism.

I know that was not a fair answer, so, I think people need to be realistic first and then place whatever % on Optimism or Pessimism that they feel is deserved. Taking into consideration the situation of course.

I cannot imagine a positive that comes from being a pessimist. but hey I am here to learn

Seems to me that it is more a survival trait to be an optimist over a pessimist.

Looking for examples- if you know you have x days to live- would you rather enjoy those final days or end it early?

For Thanskgiving- is it better to do the Thanksigivng Family dinner than not? Even if you know part of the family will fail to show or fight.

If you sow a field of corn, is it better to operate as though the harvest will come in than not- you do know that crop failure happens in x% of years - bugs, infestation, drought, the nieghbors cows.

If you work for 40 hours to get paid, is it better to work expecting the company can pay you at the end of the 40 hours? Even in these uncertain economic times.

Is it better to have a broken down car towed to the mechanic, than not? Even if you don't know if the old car can be repaired economically.

What other examples? I always look for concrete cases to think about.

That's kinda like Would I rather be grateful or self-pitying... My husband was usually the pessimist (especially about the neighbors) and I was usually the extreme optimist. He used to call me Pollyanna...
These days, I find myself trapped in bouts of pessimism, but I can usually talk myself out of those. Like John said - survival!

To me being what is called a pessimistic is someone who is mostly negative because of bitterness,unfounded fears and doubts...a optimistic person is someone who chooses to think all things regardless of outcomes can be used for the good of something or another...

which would you rather be?

I am a positive person who believes in reality. Nor do I dwell on the negative part of that reality (most times anyway)
I try not to look for the worst but know the worst does sometimes happen. Its what I do with it at that point that will tell you which I am.

Who would opt to be a pessimist? Sometimes I'm a realist. I don't think I can assign a number scale to either one ... I guess I'm a realistic optimist.

SueAnne, i think people sometimes confuse pessimism and realism. i think of my self as a realistic optimist or sometimes i'll say pragmatic optimist.

Maybe a half dozen times a year i'll briefly get into a pessimistic funk, a 'When my ship comes in i'll be at the airport.' mood. But most of the time i'm optimistic...i work at it, i actually count blessings and remind myself of all the good in my life on a regular basis. i can't say what's right for anybody else, but for me that Pessimism 2 (the occaisional brief self-pity party as catharsis, to express frustration which usually ends in my laughing at myself) and Optimism 8 works well for me.

John gave some good examples of Optimisms uses. If you embark on a project (whether farming, ranching, construction, whatever) it's best to be as proactive and do all you can with an eye towards best outcome, because there are always aspects you can't control...and if you don't put the constructive effort in to the project it fails and becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I think that for us to be optimistic requires that we position oursleves around others who are also choosing this path. I have become much more optimistic but I am always concious that some people never expect anything good - always looking for trouble while others assume that everything is good. If double-checking and questioning make me more of a pessimist then I guess I would score myself : 6 - optimist; 4 - pessimist,