Rick Baker Thought Posts
Left Menu Space Holder

About the author

Name of author Rick Baker, P.Eng.

E-mail me Send mail
Follow me LinkedIn Twitter

Search

Calendar

<<  October 2024  >>
MoTuWeThFrSaSu
30123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031123
45678910

View posts in large calendar

Recent Comments

Comment RSS

Genes, Optimism, & Pessimism

by Rick Baker
On Sep 22, 2011
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.

Tags:

Attitude: Creating Positive Attitude | Optimism & Pessimism

Comments (3) -

Rick
1/29/2012 4:53:38 PM #

"The optimist has the power to see things in their entirety and in their right relations. The pessimist looks from a limited and a one-sided point of view. The one has his understanding illuminated by wisdom, the understanding of the other is darkened by ignorance."

Ralph Waldo Trine
'In Tune with the Infinite', (1942, 45th Anniversary Edition)

Rick
2/12/2012 6:54:04 PM #

An optimist may see a light where there is none, but why must the pessimist always run to blow it out?

Rene Descartes, French Philosopher & Mathematician (1596-1650)

rick baker
11/29/2016 9:45:29 PM #

"The optimist thinks this is the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears it is true."

J. Robert Oppenheimer
U.S. Physicist, (1904-1967)

Pingbacks and trackbacks (1)+

Add comment

biuquote
Loading

Copyright © 2012. W.F.C (Rick) Baker. All Rights Reserved.