What makes one an optimist?

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Permalink Reply by a servant (Chris) on May 20, 2013 at 2:28pm

When I have been asked, "do you see a glass half full or half empty?"  I ask, "what is in the glass?"  When I look at this, how do we become optimist or pessimist?  Many of us have had a life that, seems to point us into one direction or the other.  However, when you look at things, through The Blood of Christ, to me it seems to arm us with such Joy.  So the exercise begins.  Our past pulling us in one way, who we are in Christ pulling us in the other.  We may have all sorts of reasons why, we do not want to be let down; let down again and again.  Yet, it appears to me as in my question, "what is in the glass," what do we have in Christ?  We have Joy.  Add Joy with Faith, Hope, and Love, this mindset at the very least arms us with the ability to Believe all will be well with us.

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Permalink Reply by Amanda on May 20, 2013 at 2:52pm

I just know a little joke about how to tell if you are an optimist or a pessimist. It depends on the state of the glass before you look at it. If the glass was full and you looked at it and saw it was now half empty, you are a pessimist. If the glass was empty and you looked at it and saw it was now half full, you're an optimist.

There could be some truth in that little joke though. It's about the original state -- and many things can influence that state, including environment, genetics, etc ...

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Permalink Reply by a servant (Chris) on May 20, 2013 at 5:50pm

I do understand what you are saying, Amanda.  Even though I always knew/ know that I was/ am loved by my family.  Yet, I did get a lot of criticism from parts of my family.  And, I always got negative comments and attitude from teachers, from 1st grade on.  With my undiagnosed ADHD, so they only saw me as lazy.  High test scores, low daily work.  Would not pay attention, etc..  So now I catch myself not finishing things, if not finished it cannot be criticized.  And, things like that.  As you know, I still struggle with things I think I should be over.  But, I am who I am.  All that I was born with, together with all the things that happened/ happen to me.  

I am left with holding on to the Knowledge I am Loved.  I have to go, a thunderstorm and tornado are about to come our way.  I thank you for sharing, I believe I know your heart, and I learn from what you share.

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Permalink Reply by Ricprimus on May 21, 2013 at 4:00am

Lol, from a lifetime of experience, most optimists are those that are too ignorant of what is going on (grin). As you wrote, as Christians Faith, Hope and Love play a big role, along with knowing that the Bible says our side wins in the end! Simply living goes a long way also, as you live, learn and experience life enough you grow out of the "but it's not fair!" state of mind and realize life has its ups and downs. since God is not only for our growth, but also for our pruning, which often opens up whole new areas of growth. I've seen people destroy themselves over wondering why bad things happen to good people, or even more, why good things happen to bad people. Every breath I take is a gift from God: and I like breathing too much to let things get me down for long. My 2 cents worth.

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Permalink Reply by Seek on May 21, 2013 at 6:06am

I'm not really sure if genetics plays so much a role as our upbringing does.  We may be more predisposed to one or the other, but if you're not an optimist and you receive a lot of love growing up, you will be optimistic because of that upbringing.  You can also be an optimist and have that optimism battered out of you through abuse (emotional, verbal, physical).  

I believe in a sense we are ALL a bit of a pessimist.  Even our whole outlook on life is rooted in the glass being half empty.  Weathermen do not tell you there is a 50% chance of sunshine today, but instead tell you there is a 50% chance of rain.  Even when the sunshine is more prevalent....say 70%...they still focus on the 30% chance we have for rain.  Society gears us towards the pessimistic.  

Because of my own upbringing, I've struggled with a pessimistic/negative outlook.  I tend to expect that which I've always received.  Then you get the well meaning Christians who speak before they think and tell you if you think that way you'll always get what you've always gotten.  Truly?  So when I was a child and not thinking I would be traumatized in many ways, I was asking for it then?  No, we get what others heap onto us, not because we expect it or don't expect it.  The woman walking down the street wasn't expecting someone to attack her.  But once they do, she may now develop a cautious attitude, which some may label as pessimistic...thinking she's always going to be attacked.  

To combat my own negative outlook, I have read MANY MANY Christian books on dealing with emotions and on positive attitudes.  I've read what the Bible says about these things.  I've prayed continually on it.  And it has changed slowly...painstakingly slowly at times.  And I have to really guard against it and don't always succeed.  But moreso today than last year or the year before.  

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Permalink Reply by a servant (Chris) on May 24, 2013 at 8:54pm

Seek

"Because of my own upbringing, I've struggled with a pessimistic/negative outlook."  I could have shared those same words.  What I have learned, I believe one of the reason I posted this was, the more I put my Trust in Him, the more I operate in Faith, the more of a optimist I become.  Not just to think, and hope things happen.  Yet, to believe as I put my Trust in HIm, as I operate in Faith, His Will will be done.  And we know that for those who love God, that is, for those who are called according to his purpose, all things are working together for good. Rom 8:28  Besides, God is able to make every blessing of yours overflow for you, so that in every situation you will always have all you need for any good work. 2Cor 9:8   I still have trouble not seeing and looking for the negative.  I am a work in progress.  I just thought there may be a correlation between, woking in Faith and optimism.  

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Permalink Reply by Carla on May 21, 2013 at 5:46pm

Chris,

I think it's just kind of built into people to naturally be one way or another.  I've met lots of people who are not believers, but they remain optimistic.  IMO it's just kind of a natural personality trait which some people have and others don't have. 

 

I am thinking of one person in particular...she is a hardened atheist, but remains to be optimistic about things.  It's a 'nice' trait to have... but outside of Christ it is rather inconsistent with an atheist worldview. 

I think sometimes people also believe 'mind over matter'...kind of like a spiritual belief that we have control over the outcome of things according to how we think about them...like a 'new-age' approach.

 

As Christians we know that we have the solid foundation of Christ to stand on.  He is the way the truth and the life.  When our circumstances are falling apart we know that He never leaves us.  We don't have to resort to positive thinking because we have 'Jesus thinking'.  We just have this assurance that we will never be abandoned or forsaken, and no matter what the outcome of things is, God's working all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

 

Turning our eyes to Jesus and looking fully at Him is better than optimism... Optimism will pass away as it in-itself has no eternal value.

 

Blessings, Carla

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Permalink Reply by a servant (Chris) on May 24, 2013 at 8:58pm

Carla

After sharing with Seek then reading what you have posted.  I would agree, "Optimism will pass away as it in-itself has no eternal value."  To operate in Faith.   Faith in The Word, Faith in The Love of the Lord.  Faith in All god is and offers.  Bless you for your words and His Wisdom.

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