Is optimism rational & motivational, or is it illusory & debilitating?

[Bucky]

Is optimism rational & motivational, or is it illusory & debilitating?
Seriously, I'm curoius about other peoples' thought on this. I'm a pretty optimistic person, even when the chips are down. But I'm not as successful as I'd like to be in life. Do you think that being an optimist keeps someone from facing the cold hards, or does it keep that little spark of motivation alive and keep a person chugging along, even in the worst of times?

Responses eagerly sought.

[Patiod]

1. It also depends on what you do for a living

My dad is a ridiculously optimistic person, and was a damned good salesman in his day. Optimism is a MUST to be successful in sales. I envy you.

Good, solid, reproducible Research has shown that optimists live better.

Two of my girlfriends are pessimists, and they work in risk analysis (one in a bank, one at a money management firm). You do NOT want optimists doing your risk assessments. I think of myself as slightly pessimistic but mostly realistic, which helps in market research, but makes me awful at sales.

[barb162]

2. I think being a realist is best which means not being an optimist or

pessimist. Just look at things as they are, look at facts and don't have unsupportable hope or doom.

[Lerkfish]

3. hope for the best, prepare for the worst...

is good advice.

My take would be that different situations determine whether optimism is an appropriate stance. For example, to be optimistic that Bush would admit to causing 9/11 would be illusory.
To be optimistic that truth will out in the end is motivating.

therefore, the appropriateness of optimism is terrain-dependent.

Myself, I am optimistic that whatever is the most depraved and evil way to conduct govt will be attempted by this administration. however, that does not make me an optimist.

:)

[SmokingJacket]

4. I think being an optimist is the KEY to success.

At least, observing my successful husband leads me to believe that. Bad stuff rolls off him, he can accept negative criticism with a good attitude, and he always approaches every project with energy and enthusiasm because he's SURE it's going to be GREAT! And often it is. When it's not, no worries! Onto the next thing.

I'm a pessimist much of the time, and find myself caught up/bogged down in my own negativity. I'm trying to learn to be more optimistic, but it's not easy when it doesn't come naturally...