Journal 8: Optimism vs Pessimism

"Is the glass half empty or half full?". I'm sure most of us are familiar with this famous expression. To be honest, I myself never paid attention to how our observation of such common thing can relate to our personality, not until I read its explanation. Once in a while, when I had a choice to see a "not so full" glass of water, I automatically thought someone must have taken a sip. Does that mean I'm a fan of pessimism? The answer maybe yes. Before studying abroad, I had a very "peaceful and happy" life, when I was supported to the fullest by my parents and good friends. I was too naive to realize life could be that hard. I was so optimistic that I thought things could be worked out easily, until I came to America. It's like I started a new life, learned everything again - even the basic commonsense - and knew the true meaning of "life pressure". It's not something related to my parents' expectations. It's a whole combination of the perspective my relatives have on me, the feeling of being compared with other successful cousins, and a completely different lifestyle with lots of rules and restrictions. I was so stressed out that I always thought I was a loser, empty-handed, and poor-educated. I believe this mess reflects how pessimistic I was. Until I moved out. I started to do everything on my own - things that were always organized by my parents. I learned how to face difficulties without complaints and to ignore what other people talk about me. I also realize that the hard life in America will never be for those who only whine and cry out loud every time they deal with struggles. Now I believe how a clear and optimistic mind can change my life, like Winston Churchill once said, "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." A miracle never happens itself. It's you who has the power to make use of every opportunity life offers and thus, make yours better.

I read Wendy and Candy's posts.