Five Ways That Being Positive Can Backfire

Amy Morin

Optimism provides a multitude of benefits, across many facets of life.1Researchers have linked looking on the bright side to everything from improved pain tolerance to increased longevity.2There’s no denying the incredible power an optimistic outlook can have on your health,relationships, and performance.

But like anything in life, it is possible to have too much of a good thing.Here are five ways an overly3optimistic outlook can do more harm than good:

1. The Above-Average Effect

The majority of us tend to think we’re above average in a lot of ways.Countless research studies show our tendency to think we’re smarter, more popular, healthier, and even better drivers than those around us.4Despite the fact that it’s statistically impossible for 80% of us to be “above average,” the vast majority of people still insist they belong in the top percentile5for many skills.

While self-confidence is enormously important in many aspects of life,exaggerating6your skills isn’t helpful. Thinking, “I’m the smartest person in the room,” or “My leadership skills are superior7,” may actually serve as a disadvantage if your sense of self isn’t realistic.

“天生我材必有用，千金散尽还复来”、“船到桥头自然直”，这些“old sayings”向我们传达着乐观心态的重要性。我们也可以因乐观面对困难、面对人生而获益良多。然而物极必反，过度的乐观也能带来负面的影响，干扰我们应有的冷静判断。或许，我们真正需要的正是乐观和悲观思维的平衡。

2. The“This Will Be Easy” Mindset8. mindset: 心态。

If you’re not careful, an overly optimistic outlook can cross over into arrogance.9. cross over: 过渡，转变；arrogance:傲慢。Making assumptions like, “I could quit cold turkey tomorrow if I wanted to,” or, “I don’t need to prepare for that test because I’m going to ace it,” can have disastrous consequences.10. assumption: 假定；quit cold turkey: 突然戒烟；ace: 完胜，考高分；disastrous: 灾难性的；consequence: 后果。Underestimating11. underestimate: 低估。challenges leaves you unprepared and ill equipped—and believing that everything in life will come easy can actually damage your self-worth. After all, if challenges are easy, shouldn’t you always succeed the first time? Denying that success requires hard work and sharp skills sells yourself short.12. sharp: 聪明的，敏锐的；sell oneself short: 低估自己。

3. Confusing Positive Thinking and Magical Thinking13. magical thinking: 奇思妙想，异想天开。

Sometimes people muddle14. muddle: 混淆。the line between positive thinking and magical thinking. The latter, the notion that your thoughts have the power to change the course of the entire universe, isn’t exactly backed by science—yet many people believe that if they wish hard enough they’ll win the lottery because their thoughts will increase their chances of hitting it big.15. notion: 概念；course: 进程；back: 支持；win the lottery: 中彩；hit it big:取得大成功。When it comes to everyday events, assuming your thoughts on their own have the power to make anything happen can actually hold you back from reaching your greatest potential.16. 就日常事务而言，幻想着你的意志本身有一种力量可以使任何事情成功，这实际上会阻碍你发挥出最大潜能。hold back: 阻止，阻碍；potential: 潜能。After all, why bother getting a job if you know you’re headed for a big lottery payday (to use an extreme example)?17. why bother: 何苦；payday: 发薪日。Positive thinking only yields18. yield: 带来，产生。positive results when it’s combined with positive behavior.

4. Assuming Things Will Always Go According to Plan

While hoping for the best is one thing, denying that anything could go wrong is another. Convincing yourself that things will always go smoothly just isn’t a good plan, and yet how often do you hear people say things like, “I’m sure everything will be just fine,” as they plow ahead with no backup plan?19. plow ahead: 进行，前行；backup:备用的，备份的。

If a business leader says, “We’re doubling the amount of clients we’re taking on over the next year and that’s sure to generate revenue,”20. 我们明年将使客户数量翻倍，确保盈利。take on: 承担，接受；revenue: 收益。without considering the potential problems with that plan, his or her company will be unprepared for the realities they’ll likely face.Unrealistic optimism can cause you to ignore warning signs and deny potential negative consequences you may face.

5. Idealizing the Truth

It’s nice to want to see the good in everyone and in every opportunity,but optimism should never become delusional21. delusional: 妄想的。. Sometimes people think in order to be optimistic, they must minimize22. minimize: 最小化。—or even deny—anything negative, even the truth. The reality is that there are bad people and unhealthy companies in the world that will take advantage of you if you don’t recognize the warning signs.

A willingness to overlook the fact that someone repeatedly lies could cause you to trust an untrustworthy person.23. willingness: 意愿； untrustworthy:靠不住的，不可信赖的。And shrugging off a few unethical issues raised during a meeting about a new business venture may cause you to enter into a doomed situation.24. shrug off: 对……不屑一顾；unethical: 不道德的；business venture: 企业；doomed: 注定失败的。Healthy optimism should stop short of clouding your judgment.25. stop short of: 在做某事前突然住手；cloud: 干扰（思考），把某人搞糊涂。

Develop Balanced Thinking

Our inner dialogue impacts the way we feel and the way we behave each day.And just as dwelling on the negative isn’t healthy, focusing too much on the positive can also be detrimental.26. dwell on: 细想；detrimental: 不利的，有害的。Learning how to identify and replace unproductive thoughts with healthier ways of thinking is a skill everyone can learn. Train your brain to be constructively27. constructively: 建设性地。optimistic. You’ll become most effective when you have balanced thoughts that recognize the silver lining with those that acknowledge the reality of the situation.28. 当你能够拥有平衡的思维方式，既能发现一线曙光，又能承认现实情况，那么你的效率会达到最高。silver lining: 一线希望。