Mind Gym by Sebastian Bailey Read Free Book Online

straightforward pessimism based on the explanatory style described earlier. A d response represents more accentuated pessimism.
    If your pessimism is mainly of the b type, then the best way to go about becoming more of an optimist is to explain situations differently to yourself after you’ve experienced them. When something goes wrong, try describing the situation as specific and temporary (e.g., The shower curtain didn’t stay up this time), and when things go well, describe them in a universal, permanent, and personal way (e.g., I’m great at all home repair projects ).
    If you gave 2 or more points to a d response for any statement, it suggests certain things other than your explanatory style are worth looking at if you want to benefit from attentive optimism. Review your d responses to any of the statements outlined in the following list, because this will give you further insight into your type of pessimism.
Statements
Unrealistic Pessimism Types
1, 3
You overidentify . This indicates that you may be in danger of taking more responsibility for a negative outcome than is reasonable.
2, 6, 8, 9
You maximize/minimize problems . You run the risk of exaggerating a negative impact or dismissing a positive aspect.
4, 5
You overinterpret . Much like undiluted optimists, you assume what other people are thinking or are capable of doing without much or any evidence.
7, 10
You misallocate responsibility . You are generous in your praise, but you may not value your own contribution enough. This modesty could be attractive to others, but it may also leave you with less appreciation of your strengths.
When Pessimism Pays
    So far, we have suggested that optimism is preferable to pessimism, and broadly speaking this is true. However, there are a handful of circumstances in which it is better to switch to a more pessimistic outlook. One of the tricks to being an attentive optimist lies in knowing when to be optimistic and when to be pessimistic. In summary, there are three situations when it is best to adopt a pessimistic outlook:
When You’re Making Major Decisions
    The optimism that helped you succeed in your day job could be a disadvantage when you are considering big decisions, such as changing your lifestyle completely. Too much optimism in this situation can result in wishful thinking.
When the Implications of Being Wrong Would Be Extremely Serious
    How comfortable would you be if you knew that the pilot of your plane was being optimistic about having enough fuel to get to your destination? Yeah. Serious.
When You Are Trying to Comfort Someone Who Is Very Unhappy
    Try telling someone whose mother has just died that they are really lucky because they will inherit a lot of money and will no longer have to spend Christmas being reminded of all their faults. Try it. We can pretty much guarantee that this conversation ends very badly.
    In almost all other situations, you are better off being broadly optimistic.
Optimism, Meet Pessimism: Why Arguing with Yourself Is Good
    Kevin likes playing chess. The person Kevin most often plays chess with is himself. When his friend Alan saw him playing white and then swapping seats and playing black, Alan was confused. “Don’t you always lose?” he asked. “No,” replied Kevin, “I always win.”
    This story not only highlights the difference between an optimistic thinker, Kevin, and a pessimistic one, Alan, but also poses an interesting question: How can you develop your own strategy when you know how you’ll play against yourself and, therefore, will be more than capable of defeating yourself? Kevin contends that he deliberately blocks his previous thoughts and, by physically moving to the other side of the board, looks at the problem with a fresh perspective. He admits that it isn’t quite the same as playing against another person, but he is confident that it has helped him improve his game.
    When it comes to the idea of arguing with yourself, your reaction is likely to be more