I am an optimist...
always have been in my trek as Lou.
Speaking for myself, and most people I know,
why does it seem easier to expect the worst
and harder to expect the best in a 'real' way
( the projected outcome in which we're willing to risk our life and wellbeing).
Why?
In a word...ENTROPY!
The tendency of all form/images to dissolve.
A couple of definitions:
1)The tendency for all matter and energy in the universe to evolve toward a state of inert uniformity.
(The Eternal Cycle) 2)Inevitable and steady deterioration of a system or society.
In a short phrase... "we see decay is real and universal!".
Okay, no big news flash that all forms are temporal (not eternal as they are not 'always present').
Christianity has taught us that forms and people 'become' eternal which of course absurd in the light of what 'eternity' really is...to be eternal is to be constant...'always present'
ALSO
the appearance of temporal forms in an eternal arena is only possible as part of a larger cyclical movement.
Getting back to my point, as we see everything die and change and fall apart it is my deduction that this 'truth' imprints our consciousness with a negative overall ultimate expectation...makes us expect the worst at deep levels because the ultimate end of everything seen is dissolution.
So should we all get depressed and give up?
Of course not! I can embrace and see 'things' the way they are, understanding without movement there would be no-thing and no experience. I can be thankful for each stage of my conscious experience and learn to overcome the overall 'entropic' tendencies to free my subconscious to reprogram and expect temporary awesome experiences.
Hey...according to science we have already seen 13.7 billion years pass by so we definitely are not pressed for time to experience whatever we can create including an expansion of our conscious memories and form past a measly 70-100 years.
THE ALTERNATIVE...
believe in a myth or fairy tale to avoid reality, work hard, die and waste the precious opportunity afforded me by the development of INTELLIGENCE.
No way!!!
All my blessings to you in your dis-covery of JOY!