Could it be that I have missed one of life’s main goals?

Based on casual observation, I am beginning to suspect that one of the ultimate goals of this life or maybe even a secret reward has been promised to any among us who can imagine and proclaim the worst possible outcome of events. Why else would so many choose to take the darker side of “what will happen” so regularly? I can only assume that they must be strategically choosing the negative position in order to play the odds, ensuring that one of these days they will be right, the worst will happen, and they will win some secret jackpot and be praised as “omniscient pessimists” by the rest of humanity.

Why else would thinking people intentionally choose a negative default perspective unless they expected some reward for their troubles?

I suppose there is a certain perverse euphoria in proclaiming “I told you so” but it is hard to imagine that this fleeting moment of gloating is worth a lifetime of negativity or the countless times they are wrong.

Often the excuse for taking the negative is basically… “Look, I’m just being real here.”

Owning reality and not living in some fantasy world is certainly a virtue but how “Real” is taking the negative all the time? Consider how often a negative prediction is wrong! Yes, bad things happen but so do good things and that doesn’t even consider the third outcome… indifferent results, neither good or bad. If each category of results had an equal chance of happening (and they do) then the category of “Bad” results would have only a one in three chance of happening, and yet many seem to pretend it is a foregone conclusion, and then take some unknown pleasure in proclaiming their omniscient negativity to anyone who will listen… “I can tell you right now how it is all going to turn out.”

Some pessimists might concede that they are often wrong but will argue that there is a certain catharsis in having the negative approach, that expecting the worst case scenario somehow purges or blunts the negative emotions that accompany the worst outcomes and makes them happier when things turn out better than they expected. This may be the best argument one could make for a negative view but I still find it weak. I would agree that it is important to consider and accept both the best and worst case scenarios, but would it not be better to simply accept the reality that either is possible and then proceed without committing your opinion to an outcome you do not REALLY know will happen and most likely do not control.

Catharsis is he process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions. Don’t repress them, accept them. Accepting both the good and bad offers catharsis, without the messy drama of committing yourself to an outcome that may not happen. If it is pleasant surprise you are after than expect nothing, good or bad, and then you will be surprised by whatever happens.

How many mental cycles, hours, days, and weeks of the pessimist’s life is lost to worry, ill will, and negativity… and for what?

If the odds are not in the pessimists dark favor, if catharsis and surprise can be found in simply accepting both good bad potential outcomes, then it must be that the pessimist does indeed choose negativity out of their desire to stand victorious above a swamp of negativity and proudly proclaim they “told you so”. How sweet and fulfilling this hollow, self interested victory must be if it is to fill the hole created by countless other failed predictions of pending doom and the joy of living lost in the process.

I choose to assume neither the best or worst but rather wait and accept what ACTUALLY happens. I find it most prudent to consider the possibility of both good, bad, and indifferent outcomes and to further appreciate the fact that my perspective about the outcome will be more important to me than the event itself.

On the balance, the pessimist has no reward, but must be content with the fleeting thrill they feel when the worst that could happen, does, and proves their pessimism correct every now and then. A fleeting reward at the cost of all else is no reward at all.