Thanksgiving a good time to shed pessimism

Giving thanks implies a positive regard for some outcome. It means being grateful, thankful and appreciative of events in our lives. The ability to interpret life in a positive manner and express gratitude is one of the cornerstones of good mental health.

Optimists tend to view life in a positive manner and feel that they have some input and control over outcomes in their lives.

Pessimists, on the other hand, are ruled by feelings of helplessness and often see themselves as the cause of all of their misfortunes.

Optimists, when confronted by a bad situation, tend to view it as a learning experience, a challenge, an opportunity to improve. The pessimist senses self-defeat and sees bad fortune as likely to last for a long time if not forever.

It is true that many things in life are beyond our control. The color of our eyes and skin, the passage of time, even the weather.

Optimists focus on things they can change. They think and behave in ways that maximize their control of consequences in life. Pessimists tend to think and behave in a manner consistent with assumed or probable failure.

Following are some of the characteristics of pessimists:


They often feel melancholy, down in the dumps, worry excessively and suffer from anxiety and depression.

Pessimists often experience poor health. Many medical authorities believe there is a strong link between optimism and the body’s ability to resist disease. Pessimism actually turns off the immune system, according to many medical experts.

Pessimists tend to sabotage their own success. A pervasive belief that life will turn out badly becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Pessimists tend to give up quickly or don’t even try in the face of challenge or change.

Pessimists tend to view other people cautiously. Their tendency to not trust other people often denies them the opportunity for support when times are tough. This lack of trust is often based on the pessimist’s cynical view of the motives and virtues of others.

Pessimists tend to be difficult to work and live with.

Pessimists suffer from flawed thinking. They view life as being a glass that is half empty rather than half full. This outlook is often passed on to their offspring, thus creating the next generation of pessimists.


Thanksgiving is a great opportunity for pessimists to begin shedding their cloak of darkness, despair and dissatisfaction.

They first must admit that they are unhappy and have a problem. Next they should resolve to begin the process of change.

One of my mother’s favorite sayings is “Learn to count your blessings.” Counting one’s blessings is focusing on the part of the glass that is half full.

That’s an excellent place to start if you want to become an optimist.