Optimism

So recently I've been thinking about optimism. Optimism is defined as the tendency to expect favorable outcomes in situations, or a tendency to believe that the world is good. Many people agree that optimism is good, and that you should be optimistic rather than pessimistic. I wondered why this is so. I agree that optimism is a good thing, but I didn't really know why. People generally don't like hanging around pessimistic people, for obvious reasons. They tend to discourage people and create a bad environment. Optimistic people encourage others and create an overall positive environment. Everyone needs encouragement, so might as well give it to them. But I really struggle to understand why being optimistic is considered good. I believe that optimism is good because it gives you a better outlook on life. Which is quite obvious. The reason I think optimism is good to have is because it helps get things done. If you constantly believe that you will be able to do well in your circumstances, you will. I once read a quote by Theodore Roosevelt that says "believe you can and you're halfway there." If you think nothing will go right and everything will turn out unfavorably, there's a better chance they will. This is caused mainly by how your attitude affects you. If you think pessimistically, you don't make an effort to change the situation. If you think optimistically, you do put that effort. People make the argument that if you place high standards, you will never reach them; so why not place low standards? If you have low standards and expectations, you will achieve them easier than high expectations. However true this may be, I think I am happier when I fail at something that I put effort into than when I succeed at something I put no effort into. When I think optimistically, I enjoy life more, because I put more effort into what I believe. You will put effort into what you believe. If you believe you can become a basketball player, you will practice basketball. When you think positively, you will achieve more of what you want in life. You can't achieve as much if you think negatively. Optimism is the best attitude we can have when we approach different situations in life. I encourage you to think optimistically and believe that you can achieve what you want.
-Smart