Descriptive vs. prescriptive optimism
It’s not blind optimism, but it’s not pessimism. It’s the very optimistic belief that things will inevitably go wrong, but that each new challenge is an opportunity for further progress.
Packy McCormick • Optimism
realistic optimism balances a hopeful and positive perspective with a recognition that the desired outcome may or may not occur.
Tony Schwartz, Jean Gomes, Catherine McCarthy • The Way We're Working Isn't Working
Sensible optimism is a belief that the odds are in your favor, and over time things will balance out to a good outcome even if what happens in between is filled with misery.
Morgan Housel • The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness
There are many aspects of life that pull us in opposing directions. We need to be pessimistic enough to prepare for bad outcomes but optimistic enough to undertake new projects. We need to see people both as enmeshed in systems that push them around and as free agents shaping their own lives. It’s vital to be skeptical and ask questions, but also t
... See moreJoshua Rothman • Why Are We Tormented by the Future? | The New Yorker
Morgan Housel on finding the sensible balance between optimism and pessimism:
“Optimism is usually defined as a belief that things will go well. But that's incomplete. Sensible optimism is a belief that the odds are in your favor, and over time things will balance out to a good outcome even if what happens in between is filled with misery. And in fa... See more
“Optimism is usually defined as a belief that things will go well. But that's incomplete. Sensible optimism is a belief that the odds are in your favor, and over time things will balance out to a good outcome even if what happens in between is filled with misery. And in fa... See more
James Clear • Highlights From jamesclear.com
Real optimists don’t believe that everything will be great. That’s complacency. Optimism is a belief that the odds of a good outcome are in your favor over time, even when there will be setbacks along the way.