When we are born we are predisposed to be negative or middle-of-the-road or positive.

 

I envision this like a Bell Curvewhere:

• 25% of people are genetically negative/pessimistic,
• 50% are genetically middle-of-the-road, and
• 25% are genetically positive/optimistic.

 

The extent of negativity or positivity is not fixed.

 

Picture it as falling within a range…i.e., each of us is born with a predetermined range where we either ‘tend’ to be negative , ‘tend’ to be neutral, or ‘tend’ to be positive. While, as research strongly suggests, a range like the one I have described is set by genetics:

• pessimistic people can work at being at the most-optimistic end of their range,
• neutral people can work at being more-optimistic, and
• optimistic people can work at making sure their optimism stays within the bounds of realism. [Too much optimism carries some unfortunate consequences.]

 

When genes tend toward optimism:

 

Some folks are born with a tendency toward optimism and their life experiences taught them how to keep their optimism within realistic bounds. When compared to pessimists, these realistic optimists have a far greater chance of seeing the world as an abundant place.

 

Other folks allow their optimism to rule them…I mean, their ego is taking advantage of the optimistic predisposition and their optimism, call it mania, causes them to become disconnected from other people. They live in their own Can-Do world where there are few if any limits. While, from time to time, this shows up in the form of great genius more often it shows up as in the form of alienation from ‘lesser folks’.

 

When genes tend toward middle-of-the-road:

 

Some folks are born without a tendency toward optimism or pessimism. They are born neutral. They have broader choices. It makes sense these people should choose to be as optimistic as possible. They should do what it takes to maximize their optimism. The risk of overachieving and becoming too optimistic is small.

 

When genes tend toward pessimism:

 

Some folks are born with a tendency toward pessimism. They will rarely if ever be able to leap from pessimism to optimism. They will, however, be able to be neutral, neither pessimistic nor optimistic…call them realists. Realistic people: nothing wrong with being in that zone.