A pessimist sees only the dark side of the clouds, and mopes; a philosopher sees both sides, and shrugs; an optimist doesn’t see the clouds at all – he’s walking on them.
Leonard Louis Levinson
A lot of our life depends on how we approach it. It might sound clichéd, but we really do have the power to manifest things – we become what we think we are. It is, therefore, important to have a positive perspective on life.
Cynics always find a way to see the negative side of things. Even when things are going well in their lives, they tend to doubt things to the point that they are always scared that their golden streak will come to an end. Their outlook on life is characterized by a constant skepticism about everyone around them, even those who mean well.
Philosophers, on the other hand, are indifferent to life in that they are aware of both the positives and negatives. Regardless of the situation, they are hardly ever fazed or affected by it. While this is definitely far better than a pessimist’s take on life, this, too, has its own drawbacks. For instance, people around them may interpret their utter detachment from the outcome as their disinterest.
Arguably the best way to approach things is an optimist perspective. Regardless of how gloomy the situation is, an idealist always manages to find something positive about it. Their nonchalant attitude to setbacks gives them the belief that no obstacle is insurmountable for them. Their never-say-die attitude keeps them going in spite of all hardships, and that perfectly sets them up for big things in life. As crazy as it might seem, sometimes that is all it takes to turn things around, for this seemingly misplaced zeal often rubs off on others.
Leonard Louis Levinson was an American author. Known for his witty quotes, Levinson once quipped: “A pessimist sees only the dark side of the clouds, and mopes; a philosopher sees both sides, and shrugs; an optimist doesn’t see the clouds at all – he’s walking on them.”