Optimism

Optimism is a philosophy and a way of life. Optimists believe that the world is generally a positive place to be in. In the view of an optimist, people and things are good. Many liberal optimists do not believe in original sin.

Optimism basically looks on the positive side, believing things will work out in the end. When a person is optimistic, it doesn't mean that they never doubt themselves. They might have a bad day or two. They recognize that they can make things better; there is a lesson to be learned from this, and they will move on.

The opposing theory is called pessimism. Gottfried Leibnitz was a famous optimist. Arthur Schopenhauer is often considered to be a famous pessimist.

Optimism is associated with the idea of a glass looking "half full", instead of looking "Half empty". Optimism is also a habit of looking on the bright side of a situation

Optimism Media

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  Half a glass of water, illustration of two different mental attitudes, optimism (half full) and pessimism (half empty)

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  An optimist and a pessimist, Vladimir Makovsky, 1893

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  Optimistic personality (modified from)