We now know that being overtly positive or negative may not be a good thing as it can be highly unrealistic. Unrealistic optimism – the tendency to overestimate the likelihood that good things will happen and underestimate the possibility that bad things will happen – is one of the most pervasive human traits. This is because, positive thinking reinforces the belief that simply believing in success delivers it. A study, "The Optimism Bias", published in Current Biology journal consistently showed that a large majority of the population (about 80%) display an overly optimistic outlook. But is this belief realistically true or applicable?

On the other hand, pessimism, or dread has been found to be psychologically painful as established in a 2006 study titled “Neurobiological Substrates of Dread”, published in the Science Journal. However, despite its pain, pessimists by nature are inherently expected to be used to disappointment. Many of us are commonly told that if we think negative, only negative things will occur – thus reinforcing the above thought that only positive thinking is the way to go. But is this belief realistically true or applicable as well?

Optimistic and pessimistic thinking are at both ends of a spectrum. And the midpoint is realism or realistic thinking. According to WebMD, a peer-reviewed medical site, this entails looking at all aspects of a situation (the positive, the negative, and the neutral) before making conclusions. In other words, realistic thinking means looking at yourself, others, and the world in a balanced and fair way. This thinking will lead you to better well-being and coping skills regardless of the outcome of a situation. If you are incredibly optimistic, you may have negative psychological costs later on if things aren't as you expect.

A study by researchers from the University of Bath and London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) suggests that realistic thinking is a more effective strategy than forced positive thinking to obtain long-term happiness. Thus, having realistic beliefs can mean better well-being.


Here are some advantages:

Realistic thinking does not ignore reality

Both pessimistic and optimistic thinking puts your mind in a fantasy world. You're either thinking about the worst thing that could happen or the best possible outcome. If you think realistically, you're more likely to be cautiously hopeful for good results, understand situations you're in instead of being greatly disappointed or fooling yourself. It allows you to hope while encouraging you to take taking necessary steps to achieve your goals.

Embrace the present

Another essential aspect of realistic thinking is setting your mind to the present. When you think realistically, you're tuned into what's happening around you. You might start paying more attention to things like your surroundings, such as animal sounds around you, how conversations with loved ones make you feel, the feeling of the sun on your face, how your body feels during a long walk‌. You focus on your present moment and how it helps you right now. This is a form of mindfulness.

It takes away the stress of positive thinking

When you set your expectations around rational thinking, you're less likely to be anxious about the outcome. Even optimists misperceive outcomes and feel intense emotions. These feelings can lower overall well-being.

When you train yourself to rationalize and think critically about the situation, you're more likely to expect reasonable outcomes. This will set you up for better thoughts and mental health in the future.