‘A pessimist enters a situation anticipating that nothing will change for the better. They see the negative in everything and plod through the world cursing their fate.
On the other hand, a disillusioned person, many times, is looking for someone to light the spark in them again.’
All pessimists are disillusioned on some level.
But all disillusioned people aren’t pessimists.
A pessimist enters a situation anticipating that nothing will change for the better. They see the negative in everything and plod through the world cursing their fate.
On the other hand, a disillusioned person, many times, is looking for someone to light the spark in them again.
A disinterested class suddenly lights up after a new teacher who makes the subject interesting shows up.
A dysfunctional team suddenly rallies together after a new leader who respects people takes charge.
Disillusion can be overcome in a flash.
All of us have faced varying degrees of disillusionment.
We’ve been disillusioned by ineffective systems, bad work experiences, leaders and teachers, career paths and institutions.
We can get disillusioned by trying to find a job we like, a life partner, a solution to a long-standing problem.
Disillusionment is gradual. It usually occurs after a need hasn’t been met or an expectation hasn’t been fulfilled.
The main difference between disillusionment and pessimism is that one is temporary and the other is more or less a chronic condition.
It isn’t impossible to cure pessimism but it takes a little more effort than overcoming disillusionment.
Chronic disillusionment leads to pessimism.
Disillusionment affects us all.
But pessimism is a choice.
