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Does Pessimism have a role?

Discussion in 'Snippets of Life (Non-Fiction)' started by jayasala42, May 21, 2014.

  1. girvani

    girvani Platinum IL'ite

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    Dear Jayasala amma,

    This post makes me think? I always think in my mind all possible scenarios (including the worst case scenario) for upcoming actions or events. Lately, I came to an understanding that maybe I am wasting my energy by doing so but a part in me still continues to do so to some extent and I will have to put a hard break to stop that thought trail. I think while optimism makes us think positively pessimism is focused on having a protecting shield to face the disappointments. Optimism is not what we are and we can train our selves to be optimistic by what we do. It gives me hope. Thank you amma, what I have written may not make any sense but surely your article made me think. I must also thank @Srama for her optimistic post through which I found this snippet.
    Love,
    Vani
     
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  2. jayasala42

    jayasala42 IL Hall of Fame

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    Thank you Girvani for sharing your views.There are always two sides to any issue.People who often face crisis in life have a tendency to be more anxious and proceed with extra caution.
    Jayasala 42
     
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  3. Viswamitra

    Viswamitra IL Hall of Fame

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    My Dearest Vani,

    Every mind has optimism and pessimism. Whichever dominates the mind, it becomes major quality of such mind. Pessimism exists in every mind but if optimism is dominant, it remains dormant. While optimistic mind develops an attitude to perform action without worrying about the outcome of such action, pessimistic mind sets the expectation of the outcome to be worse even before performing action. As you know, in order to perform an action, thought needs to be energized as pessimistic expectation setting before even performing the action would have an effect of reducing that energy.

    In the example given by Smt. Jayasala, you would notice that the physician helped a patient release that pessimistic energy out of her mind and face the consequences in order to overcome her health issues. Everyone will have some pessimism as otherwise value of optimism will not be known to the mankind. They are pair of opposite like pleasure and pain. But if pessimism is dominant, that energy needs to be released from time to time to move on in life.

    Viswa
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2019
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  4. Thyagarajan

    Thyagarajan IL Hall of Fame

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    :hello::hello:I READ AND 'RE READ this thread from head to foot.
    2. All the participants have done profound wonderful analysis and ultimately decided both are INALIENABLE part and both "isms" are needed for success in life but extremes to be avoided. PESSIMISTS HAILED failure of Apollo 13!? Optimists succeeded with next mission.
    3. Every advancement or call it improvement - could be because of pessimism . It is applicable more so in medicine and engineering.
    4. Every aspect requires weighing pros and cons and options and pitfalls the measure of which perhaps decides the dosage of pessimism and or optimism per se
    5. An optimist invents aeroplane while a pessimist invents parachute.
    6. While at wedlock couple in arranged marriage might be optimistic of future and with the passing days level starts varying and turns to be of this and that I mean opt and press.
    7. A man given a shining bright tool for CHOPPING trees. He fell more trees on day one. A bit less on day 2. A bit more less on day 3 and so on. Boss fires him for reduction in his productivity. He turns pessimist. But he thought "why of less productivity" and lo he got it. The tool had turned blunt. He realised he forgot to sharpen the tool. He turned optimistic the moment he sharpened the tool. This may be a crude example. But the point is that it is all in "thinking" rationally.
    6. I read at one place optimist construct TEMPLE and keep a shining Hundi at the dwajasthsmbam or at the entrance. The pessimists merely worship and drop INR or $ into it.

    Thanks Regards to OP & all those participants in this 2014 thread till today.
    God Bless.
     
  5. girvani

    girvani Platinum IL'ite

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    My dearest uncle,

    Thank you very much for verifying me with clear explanations.

    Love,
    Vani
     
  6. jayasala42

    jayasala42 IL Hall of Fame

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    Dear Shri Thyagarajan,
    Thank you for the wonderful feed back for the snippet of 2014.
    This has come to forefront because of an article of Srama presented recently.
    haveing born and brought up a big joint family I have seen many calamities expected and unexpected.My sister lost five boys,children, during delivery, after the children were born, after attaining one year and so on.many relatives felt that as soon as her first child died,she became pessimistic and that attitude was the main reason for the end of all the children.When she was pregnant with her 6th child, Amma changed the doctor, place of delivery and sent her sister( our chithi) to be with my sister. It was also a boy,hale and healthy. Later she delivered two more children in the same old house where her all 5 babies died.Neither pessimism nor optimism might have been the reason for the outcome.Everything happened as destined.
    Even while preparing Mysore Pak, my mother would give a 'don't do chart' and under what condition the consistency may go wrong.We have never thought her advice as pessimism.'Hoping for the best and preparing for the worst' was the taraka mantra with which we were brought up.
    jayasala 42
     
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  7. Thyagarajan

    Thyagarajan IL Hall of Fame

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    :hello:oh thank you for your response to my FB.
    Upon reading your response my eyes turned moist. Your sister must be very brave despite misfortune struck again and again and your the most dynamic and daring problem solver.kudos to your entire brave clan or should I say dynasty.
    Regards.
    God Bless.
     
  8. Thyagarajan

    Thyagarajan IL Hall of Fame

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    :hello:I believe that the habit of thinking only on positive lines turns one into optimistic as mind brimming with those +uses will naturally expel the negatives if any and that is where subconscious lends power to conquer. Once subconscious reinforced with more and more positives would turn one into a brave person . If we remain and jell with people who are habitually optimistic, we see ourselves energized and shed all pessimism. Merely or desperately optimistic like in share market of course has its disastrous effect.
    Thanks and regards.
    God Bless Us All Always.
     
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  9. HariLakhera

    HariLakhera Platinum IL'ite

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    Quite an interesting and different view. I would not, however, call them pessimistic views. They are more of orthodox rituals. Kukum erasing and saree burning will come in that category.
    I think pessimism may help in helping the optimists to find solutions for the pessimists. One man curse may others' boon. In an aircraft mishap, two men were marooned on a lonely island. One lost all hopes but other for the sake of his own life looked for solutions to stay alive till someone rescues him.
    Also maybe pessimism will lead to leaving everything on God.
    Food for thought.
     
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  10. jayasala42

    jayasala42 IL Hall of Fame

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    We have got mythological storiesfor stressing the need for being optimistic and also for preplanning about the probable happenings.Defence forces at the border and ambulannce services,training for fire brigade and mock demonstrations all belong to forethoughts needed to face emergency.
    Belief in God exists in both optimists and pessimists.Here too it may be interpreted in various ways. Those who may await danger may say that God'destiny too may not favour them.Optimists may become over confident of their own abilities forgetting the "will' of Almighty.
    The goal to win is the same.Attitude differs.

    jayasala 42
     
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