Answer me this: Is the glass half-full or half-empty?

Apparently, the answer to this question can indicate whether someone is an optimist or a pessimist.

Both views, in extremes, can be somewhat unhealthy.

Extreme optimism can be blind, as only seeing the positive can often leave one unprepared and frequently let down when the inevitable disappointments of life occur.

Extreme pessimism seems to be too cynical and negative as only seeing the negative can lead one to be depressed and anxious about the future.

This is why I personally always answer: Doesn’t it depend on how it started?

For instance, if a glass started full, and someone took half…doesn’t that make it half-empty?

Or if a glass started empty, and someone filled it…doesn’t that make it half-full?

It might seem like I’m being difficult here, when I could just simply answer one way or the other, but it’s for a reason: I’m a realist.

Realism and pessimism are different.

To me, realism means thinking of and preparing for potential outcomes. And yes, this often includes seeing the negative side. But this simply is so I can plan for problems and work around them.

However the glass is perceived, make sure the view of a potential experience doesn’t cloud or overshadow the actual experience of it.

Allison Galbreath can be reached at [email protected] or @agalbreath19 on twitter.