Key points Past research has demonstrated that optimism can benefit happiness, relationships, and health. But defensive pessimism—setting low expectations and considering worst-case scenarios—can help ...

For the most part, the world is made up of optimists and pessimists—and sprinkled with a healthy dose of realists in between. In general, optimists expect good things to happen, and pessimists expect ...

Do you see the glass as half empty or half full? If you rewind to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, chances are you experienced some level of pessimism. And who could blame you? With social ...

There are valid reasons to feel pessimistic in today's workplace, given the deep divide between employers and employees, but studies show that optimism helps you get unstuck and move forward with your ...

This year will be remembered for many pioneering events, from the first private landing on the moon (see “Space was for sale in 2024 as private missions led by Elon Musk boomed”) to the first pig ...

Markets often behave like a pendulum, swinging between extremes of optimism and pessimism. When optimism runs high, markets can become overpriced and risk-blind, and when pessimism dominates, prices ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. author of Chained to the Desk in a Hybrid World: A Guide to Balance. This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more. This ...

The Tampa Bay Lightning have begun the latest phase of preparing for the 2026-27 season. As usual, there is a reason to be ...

Do you see the glass as half empty or half full? If you rewind to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, chances are you experienced some level of pessimism. And who could blame you? With social ...

The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. For myself I am an optimist — it does not seem to be much use being anything else. — Sir ...

During his time in a Nazi prison, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote to his friend Eberhard Bethge that he was neither a pessimist (expecting things to get worse) nor an optimist (expecting things to get ...