How can people be so pessimistic all the time?

Davesnave

Braveheart100 wrote: »

Sorry if you've lost money. That's just the way it goes I suppose?

Sell low buy high.

Toddle Pip:D

Not sure if this was all aimed at me or just general buckshot.

No, I haven't lost money, but posting the details of what I have done would be to fall into the same trap as you.

Toodle pip, indeed. God, that dates some of us!:o

treliac

Conrad wrote: »

Pessimists are a necesary component in Human groupings, indeed a Darwinian imperative to further the longevity of the gene pool. The pessimist acts as an early warning beacon, albeit one that could be likened to a car alarm that constantly goes off.

I read a great book on psychology that set out out clearly why certain brains take on the pessimist role.
It stated the empty young impressionable brain may be exposed to more 'negative' experiences even in child birth. That is not to assume the parents are at fault, as negative experiences may have been accidental or resulted from lack of expereince. For example being left too long without a feed, or being dressed to cold to sit in a windy pushchair (I see this quite often), or overdressed and then exposed to the opressive heat of clothes shops for hours on end - see that a lot too.

I'm fairly pessimistic and I think it largely stems from my experience of changing enviroments as an army child, shipped around the world. One moment I have some little freinds in nursey, then next they've all gone and I'm somewhere new - repeated several times.

That's a sad story Conrad. Unfortunately, too many of us have unhappy childhood experiences. Within reason, we need them to appreciate the full range of life's opportunities. In fact, it's rare to be able to grow up without having to deal with negative events.

Don't you think too, that we all have a genetic pre-disposition to optimism / pessimism, which influences our responses to life events? We're all pre-programmed, which brings subjectivity to our experiences. But then we can overcome some of the things dealt to us by fate. We do have some choice in whether to be cheerful or miserable, even withstanding the terrible things that happen in the world.

Life's short and it's a shame not to enjoy it as far as is possible.