[venusss]

I'm actually bipolar...

and I come from a culture where were are generally bit pessimist and cynical. We joke about political oppression and natural disasters when it happens to us. And we complain a lot.

So much for national characteristics... People think I am terribly doom and gloom sometimes... but I it's usually about politics, and I have a degree in that. So I use the slogan that pessimist is a well informed optimist.

So yes, I am worried, I believe we all are going to die anyways and that this civilisation will crumble into plastic pieces... I have bouts of optimism on my up periods... but it's still not the tacky rainbows and unicorns world view. I cannot thing of "happy things" for too long, even when up.

so am I hopelessly depressed, or just cynical pessimist? How about you?

“In Germany, [the Nazis] first came for the Communists, and I did not speak up, because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak up, because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak up, because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I did not speak up, because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me – and by that time no one was left to speak up.” ~Martin Niemoller

"To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right." ~Confucius

I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do. ~Helen Keller

Thank you for your post, VenusHalley. What is going on in the world certainly is of concern. At times, I have wondered whether cynicism and pessimism feed the depression or if the depression confounds the cynicism and pessimism. Either way, my thought is to do what I can to put myself in order as a means of contributing to what hopefully will become a better world.

[devnty06]

Ultimately, the behavioral effects of pessimism will compound and take their toll on your emotional health. Oftentimes, negativity results in chronic depression and a general feeling of self-doubt.

[venusss]

Originally Posted by devnty06

Ultimately, the behavioral effects of pessimism will compound and take their toll on your emotional health. Oftentimes, negativity results in chronic depression and a general feeling of self-doubt.

This sounds all nice, but how can one NOT be pessimist at times?