Pessimism: how to be mentally healthy

 A Pessimist : of or characterized by pessimism; expecting the worst;

Over and over I have been told in life that I need to be more positive and optimistic. In the process I tried to ignore all the thoughts in my mind that expect worst outcomes only to end up thinking about them more leading to more anxiety. But I have discovered a new way of life to help me be mentally stronger and healthier: pessimism; aka cynicism.

I wish I had discovered this earlier; so many years of pointless rumination, anxiety where everyday I get up and try to think of positive things; when actually the opposite would have actually been healthier. Of course, there is right way to do it and a wrong way. Indeed, I am not going to deny the power of optimism, trust, faith all great things. That may work for some people but it doesn't work for everyone, especially people like me who are already in a bad thought cycle from a really young age. 

The trick to being a good pessimist is to have a sense of humour alongside it. It can only work when you see the humour in the ironic nature of life. If there is a God, he is probably a prankster. Who do prankster's love most? People who are good sports and can take a joke. 

Let me go over examples of what are good pessimistic approaches:

1. The beauty of life is that you can tire yourself out so you don't have to think about anything.

2. Who the hell cares? We're all going to die anyway.

3. Just when you think you've really embarrassed yourself, remember that no one gives a shit about you cause they're too busy giving themselves shit.

4. If you think someone is incredible,  in reality, they're more likely to be weird and have tons of issues.... just like you.

5. Life is full of surprises, just when you think it can't get any worse, it definitely will. The key is not to think.

6. The whole world is out of your control. The only thing you can do is find what is in your best interest. Once you learn to be selfish, you give permission to others to do what's in their best interest as well. It's a win-win.

That doesn't mean that you don't think about important issues and problems. It's more to get out of the cycle of self-involvement. This kind of thought process helps you take things less seriously and dissipates the seriousness of your negative thoughts and hence makes your thoughts more neutral. In other words your thoughts become less negative and overall you end becoming more positive than before. 

People who follow extreme optimism may have some qualms about this method. Of course, extreme pessimists i.e. pessimism without humour, is the worst possible way to live. Anyway, from now on, I am going to be a good sport; expect the worst and understand that it could be even worse. In a way, it is the best way to find a silver lining to everything.