anticipate the worst

chiquimonkey
chiquimonkey Posts: 9,337
edited May 2008 in All Encompassing Trip
and be pleasantly surprised if all goes well.

is it a defensive mechanism? pessimism? self-fulfilling? stupid? all the above? lol

i do it sometimes. but i wonder if it does me any good really. i'm not pessimistic by nature overall, just for certain things, my brain tends to go in the darkest scenario.

just curious on people's take on it.
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  • pearljamjen
    pearljamjen Posts: 13,578
    Actually, I find that if I expect the worst, I end up pleasantly surprised as it doesn't turn out as bad as I thought it would. And that makes me happy. :)
  • Rhinocerous Surprise
    Rhinocerous Surprise Posts: 4,423
    I'm pretty much the same. The world sucks unless proven otherwise. :p
    Smokey Robinson constantly looks like he's trying to act natural after being accused of farting.
  • Solat13
    Solat13 Posts: 6,996
    I call the syndrome being a pessimistic optimist. I suffer from it as well. ;)
    - Busted down the pretext
    - 8/28/98
    - 9/2/00
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    - 8/2/07, 8/5/07
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    - 8/23/09, 8/24/09, 9/21/09, 9/22/09, 10/27/09, 10/28/09, 10/30/09, 10/31/09
    - 5/15/10, 5/17/10, 5/18/10, 5/20/10, 5/21/10, 10/23/10, 10/24/10
    - 9/11/11, 9/12/11
    - 10/18/13, 10/21/13, 10/22/13, 11/30/13, 12/4/13
  • Get_Right
    Get_Right Posts: 14,168
    same here, generally
    expect the worst, when something else happens you are psyched
  • Slip Kid
    Slip Kid Posts: 1,175
    Get_Right wrote:
    same here, generally
    expect the worst, when something else happens you are psyched

    pretty much
    I just don't trust anything that bleeds for five days and doesn't die.
  • Blanche
    Blanche Posts: 247
    Expect the best, get kicked in the teeth.
    Expect the worst, emerge smiling with teeth intact.
  • norm
    norm Posts: 31,146
    chiquimonkey wrote:
    and be pleasantly surprised if all goes well.

    is it a defensive mechanism? pessimism? self-fulfilling? stupid? all the above? lol

    i do it sometimes. but i wonder if it does me any good really. i'm not pessimistic by nature overall, just for certain things, my brain tends to go in the darkest scenario.

    just curious on people's take on it.


    i've always been a huge pessimist.....it's only been the last couple years where i've tried to not think the worst.....

    but

    i'd always thought the worst so when whatever turns out bad i'm not disappointed....and there is more joy when my expectations are exceeded :)
  • decides2dream
    decides2dream Posts: 14,977
    chiquimonkey wrote:
    and be pleasantly surprised if all goes well.

    is it a defensive mechanism? pessimism? self-fulfilling? stupid? all the above? lol

    i do it sometimes. but i wonder if it does me any good really. i'm not pessimistic by nature overall, just for certain things, my brain tends to go in the darkest scenario.

    just curious on people's take on it.


    sounds like my husband. altho i would classify him as a pessimist. he's a LOT better than he used to be, but yes....sure...still thinks like that absolutely. i just think it's all how your brain is wired, instinctive. not my modis operandi though, i am usually thinking the best...although definitely depends on the situation. some things you can't help but 'prepare for the worst'...and hope to be pleasantly surprised. :)
    Stay with me...
    Let's just breathe...


    I am myself like you somehow


  • chiquimonkey
    chiquimonkey Posts: 9,337
    good to know i'm not the only one :)

    i like optimistic pessimist lol

    i guess i'm just guarding myself, and yet i don't want to turn into a total pessimist, just cuz it seems to extinguish hope in a way. sometimes i wish i didn't think like that just cuz it gets me into a worrying fit. bah.

    thanks for the replies, just one of a billion thoughts rolling around in the ol' coconut
  • Slip Kid
    Slip Kid Posts: 1,175
    chiquimonkey wrote:
    good to know i'm not the only one :)

    i like optimistic pessimist lol

    i guess i'm just guarding myself, and yet i don't want to turn into a total pessimist, just cuz it seems to extinguish hope in a way. sometimes i wish i didn't think like that just cuz it gets me into a worrying fit. bah.

    thanks for the replies, just one of a billion thoughts rolling around in the ol' coconut

    where my stickers!! :)

    I hope everything works out for you b'
    I just don't trust anything that bleeds for five days and doesn't die.
  • audiodave
    audiodave Posts: 1,623
    chiquimonkey wrote:
    and be pleasantly surprised if all goes well.

    is it a defensive mechanism? pessimism? self-fulfilling? stupid? all the above? lol

    i do it sometimes. but i wonder if it does me any good really. i'm not pessimistic by nature overall, just for certain things, my brain tends to go in the darkest scenario.

    just curious on people's take on it.
    This is what I tell people is my take on life, as it used to be. Over the past few years, it's been changing though. Things have happened, good and bad, to change my perspective on things.

    I think now i'm more into not really expecting anything, and dealing with whatever comes my way as best I can, whether it be good or bad. And very recently, i've even started looking at SOME things optimistically, but that's someone else's doing. :)
    ~AKA Dave-of-the-dead~

    I don't wanna think, I wanna feel

    Dublin 23/08/06 Lisbon I 04/09/06 Lisbon II 05/09/06 Paris 11/09/06 Verona 16/09/06

    London 18/06/07 Dusseldorf 21/06/07 Copenhagen 26/06/07 Nijmegen 28/06/07
  • chiquimonkey
    chiquimonkey Posts: 9,337
    Slip Kid wrote:
    where my stickers!! :)

    I hope everything works out for you b'
    they're going out tomorrow at the rate today is going :)

    and thanks, i hope so too.
  • chiquimonkey
    chiquimonkey Posts: 9,337
    audiodave wrote:
    This is what I tell people is my take on life, as it used to be. Over the past few years, it's been changing though. Things have happened, good and bad, to change my perspective on things.

    I think now i'm more into not really expecting anything, and dealing with whatever comes my way as best I can, whether it be good or bad. And very recently, i've even started looking at SOME things optimistically, but that's someone else's doing. :)
    i guess that's the part i am hung up on, not anticipating or expecting? like i have to have some scenario either way in my head? maybe i'm just messed up....that's probably it lol

    but yeah, to leave myself either option and not think in either direction, good or bad, that's the thing i'm stuck on i guess.

    i'd rather be optimistic, seems more of a fight to stay in that space. a good fight though
  • Slip Kid
    Slip Kid Posts: 1,175
    chiquimonkey wrote:
    they're going out tomorrow at the rate today is going :)

    and thanks, i hope so too.

    Hang in there kiddo, don't worry bout the stickers it's not a high priority i get them.. just bustin your balls is all
    I just don't trust anything that bleeds for five days and doesn't die.
  • chiquimonkey
    chiquimonkey Posts: 9,337
    Slip Kid wrote:
    Hang in there kiddo, don't worry bout the stickers it's not a high priority i get them.. just bustin your balls is all
    i know. i have no balls, but anywhoo lol
  • Collin
    Collin Posts: 4,931
    I try to be as realistic as possible. But when it's something really important, something close to my heart I usually anticipate the worst.
    THANK YOU, LOSTDAWG!


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  • chiquimonkey
    chiquimonkey Posts: 9,337
    Collin wrote:
    I try to be as realistic as possible. But when it's something really important, something close to my heart I usually anticipate the worst.
    yeah there is definitely that distinction....the closer and more important it is, the worse my idea of 'worst' gets :/
  • Abookamongstthemany
    Abookamongstthemany Posts: 8,209
    I try to always think and hope for the best unless I know I could get hurt. Then I find I'm a bit more protective of my heart. :o
    If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.

    Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
    -Oscar Wilde
  • Slip Kid
    Slip Kid Posts: 1,175
    chiquimonkey wrote:
    i know. i have no balls, but anywhoo lol

    We have something in common then ;)
    I just don't trust anything that bleeds for five days and doesn't die.
  • chiquimonkey
    chiquimonkey Posts: 9,337
    Slip Kid wrote:
    We have something in common then ;)
    um, okay :confused: haha

    abook, yeah that's precisely where my head's at....it's like a protective mechanism, but i'm questioning just how much protection it really gives?

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