I always claim to be a 'realist.' "I'm not pessimistic, I'm just realistic" about whatever it is. Taking a step back and looking at it, that's bullshit. I'm a pessimist. That's not healthy, though, and I want to change. I'll never be an optimist...it's just not in my nature. But I can certainly do a better job of being realistic, and that includes having a bit more optimism (even if it's difficult to do.)
What I mean by this is that part of being realistic is seeing that there is a reason for optimism sometimes. Back to yesterday's example, I claimed that there was a 10% chance that I would get the job I wanted, and for that reason, I should temper my enthusiasm. Not get too excited about it, so I wouldn't be so crushed if it didn't come to be. Again, sounds great in theory.
But real life isn't a game. There is no "10% chance" of it happening...there's 'some relatively small' chance that I'll get what I want. In real life, I use this argument to find all the reasons why I'm not going to get it....they'll never create the position, I'm not right for it, they'd never pick me. Here's the truth, though...maybe they will create it. And maybe they will think I'm right for it. There's some reason to be optimistic, right?
I realize that I'm now arguing both sides. Like any belief, if you're looking for evidence to support one side or the other, you can usually find it. I can find evidence that the position won't be created, or evidence that I wouldn't be picked, if I looked hard enough. And vice versa.
So what the hell AM I saying? I don't know. I guess that I need to try a little harder to be optimistic, so I don't crush whatever opportunities might exist before I even get to them. All while tempering my excitement so that I'm not overly hurt if it doesn't come to be. Mostly, though, I need to learn patience. All things will be revealed in time. It's hard to always live in the moment, but today presents us with enough problems that we don't usually need to go looking for tomorrow's early.
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