I often find myself asking the very same question. But truth be told, more often than not, I end up choosing the latter as my answer. There I said it, I’m not as optimistic as I would perhaps love to be. But that’s me!
I don’t know how some people do it, having the faith that something good will always happen. Of-course I do have my moments when I choose to believe in the good, in the fact that everything happens for the better. But it would only be fair to say that those are few and far in between.
Isn’t it hard to keep holding on to the sanguine idea of life with all that is happening around?
A look at the newspapers would tell you what I mean. A woman vanishes into thin air only to be found later, raped and murdered. The police don’t give a hoot about our problems. The politicians, even the new kids on the block, are too busy in propagating their own agenda and nursing their pride rather than doing their jobs. And the place we work in more often than not sucks. What we love to do never pays and we detest what we do even though it pays. So how does one remain optimistic in such circumstances?
I have thought about it a lot and I think the key lies in the answers to the below questions. Simple really.
Do you have a family that loves you?
Are they alright?
Do you have loved ones who always choose to stand by you?
Do you have faith in their being with you come hell or high water?
Do you have the basic necessities of life?
I think the only think that keeps us sane in this world are positive answers to the above questions. And when that happens, I think that’s pretty much as much optimism as anyone needs in life. Also if that is so then I think I’m a bit more optimistic than I first thought I was. What say you?
Linking this to UBC.
I am …new to blogosphere…even started reading blogs recently…this one is very straight from the heart…I sometimes think the same way…just loved your blog
The 5 questions are all very subjective. Even the question about basic necessities. I know people who relish any food, maybe even rice and watery dal. I also know people who complain about any food; if they have biryani, they'll complain the rice wasn't fragrant enough!
It's all about attitude. The person who says 'half empty' actually means, "There's not much I can do with this half empty glass." The person who says 'half full' actually means, "I'll make the most of this half full glass."
I m more of a half-full person, but there are half-empty moments too !! A lovely thoughtful post, Naba 🙂 Half-full moments create the positivity in life !
(Shouting out, Nabaaaa :D)
I try to be a half full kind of person…but there are those days when the cynic in me creeps in and takes over and then I am half full. It just depends on the mood and the circumstances.
I am more of a half empty kind of person! evn wen the prblm is small, i tend to think a lot n make it bigger! this was one thought provokin post! wil try to keep negativity in check
Great post! I'm a pragmatist. 😉
"A pessimist will say its half-empty. An optimist will say its half-full, a pragmatist will take the glass and drink the water."
"it doesn't matter if the glass is half-full or half-empty. Be thankful that you have a glass and grateful that there's something in it."
I think we need to be positive in life and try to carve our own way, be giving in life, Thought-provoking post:)
Narration was magnificent…attention captivating story….Best wishes
Please ignore the above comment….I had to type this in other box….sorry
For Full or half empty…
Same like the difference between believing and knowing…It's a thought provoking issue…Let's hope for the good
I believe in the 'more than half full' principle, Naba. 🙂 No matter how dark or dreary the immediate outlook is, I always look at the bigger picture. There is ALWAYS something to be grateful for. Even the hardships you face today or the evil you see tomorrow will have a larger purpose in the ultimate , cosmic system.
*Shailaja*
Introspection in Shades of 11
A to Z Challenge, 2014/ UBC, April 2014
We have to take it as the life presents to us….when we are going through pain, we see it as half empty and when happy we see it as half full…we must balance our thoughts to remain sane.
Now Thank you for this. This is like a mantra for better living!
My answer is in affirmative to all these questions. Life is better again 🙂
Truue… I also call myself half-empty.. very optimistic.. I keep saying MH 370 is safe in some island…!! 🙁
I wish I had written this post. This is so me. The answers are yes….but some things really shake me. Like the news of four IIT students who passed away after an accident. They were celebrating the news of their placement and had gone for a fun trip. Life is what happens to you when you are planning other things. Scary. But yes, the only way out is optimism. Prepare for the worst and yet hope for the best. For anxiety and pessimism never resolved anything.
I am usually seen as an optimistic one but I have never known a pessimist as me. Maybe it just depends upon our situation and a bit what's happening around us.
life is difficult around us … and to stay positive far more difficult.
Our real test is when we are faced with difficult situations .. if we are able to go through such situation in a positive way .. then we have light at the end of the tunnel ( called life)
I am more half empty but one can always use a smaller glass.
The answers to these questions are really the basis of our existence…. well written Nabanita… 🙂
Most days i am happy go lucky kind of person but sometimes i guess we all look at life and get a little depressed,but like you say if your family is with you alls well!
I think all we have is a family and everything comes down it. The glass empty or full, family should always be there.
Very nice and I feel completely related to it! I try to be optimistic all the time but sometimes pessimism takes over!
True, these questions are so important in our lives and the answer should always be Yes.. but as Alka said above, life happens when we are busy planning other things… like it or not that's how it is..
Very relevant post ! I think its important to consciously think of what we have instead of what we don't and choose to be happy.; I have always strongly believed that happiness is a choice one makes in life.
Totally agree. Wish everyone were this optimistic like you & me! 🙂