An optimist is someone who expects good things to happen and believes situations will turn out well. When an optimist's team is losing at halftime, she believes they can still win. When an optimist studies hard for a test, he expects his preparation to pay off.

Optimists don't ignore problems or pretend difficulties don't exist. Instead, they approach challenges believing solutions are possible. If an optimist gets a low grade on an essay, she thinks about how to improve next time rather than deciding she's terrible at writing. When an optimist's science experiment fails, he gets curious about what went wrong and tries again with adjustments.

The opposite of an optimist is a pessimist, someone who expects bad outcomes and focuses on what could go wrong. While a pessimist might see a rainy forecast and complain about a ruined weekend, an optimist sees a chance to read, build something indoors, or splash in puddles.

Optimism can sometimes become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Because optimists believe effort will lead to success, they tend to keep trying when things get difficult. That persistence often leads to actual success, which reinforces their optimistic outlook. Approaching new situations with optimism can bring energy and creativity that helps turn positive expectations into reality.