Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.
– Helen Keller

We all fall on a continuum from optimism to pessimism. Optimistic people see the glass as half-full while pessimistic people see it half-empty. Optimism is a quality that has been found to have a positive effect on mental and physical health¹. Basically, a person who has an optimistic view of the world sees more positives and opportunities while a pessimistic person is negative, constantly feels challenged, and often acts as if the world is out to get them. Sadly, pessimistic people often without knowing are creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. The good news is that pessimistic people can, through coping skills training, learn to be more optimistic. The purpose of this screen is to help you evaluate where you fit on the continuum. The higher your score, the more optimistic you are; the lower your score, the higher the probability you are pessimistic.