As previously mentioned, I had some notes on my take on Constructive Pessimism floating about. I fished out this lot - basically just a lot of headings, but a good starting point.
I wrote this list about 3 or 4 years ago, and they are admittedly a bit disjointed, but I'm happy to defend them for the sake of a heathly debate!
Negative Expectations basically can be summarised as the first rule:
1. "Give much, expect nothing, take only what you need"
-That is, treat people the way you wish they would treat you, but don't assume it will be reciprocated. Expect to be treated indifferently or with hostility, and when someone surprises you, it will be a pleasant surprise!
2. "Expect the worst, then every surprise is a pleasant one"
-This is the central theme of Constructive Pessimism
3. "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail"
-The optimist is likely to ignore unlikely sources of failure, because he thinks unlikely is a risk worth ignoring.
4. "Work smarter, not harder"
-Give a new task to a lazy man, and he'll find an efficient way to do it. Be motivated by greed, laziness and selfishness, and you're bound to make something useful.
5. "Do not suffer positive fools"
- Positive is a result, not a magic potion. Being positive does not make positive things happen. Positive is your additive in the fuel, but the fuel itself is the work you're putting in.
6. "Live every day like tomorrow is a foregone conclusion"
- Facing consequences is harder than facing death,so assume that tomorrow you will have to explain your actions.
7. "Dance like the camera's off and the room is empty...except you know there's someone behind the mirror"
- Many introverts behave as if they were extroverts...it's a defense mechanism. Want to get others to be enthusiastic? Then act enthusiastic!
8. "Be habitually honest"
- If you frequently speak openly and honestly about things, people will trust your integrity. If you admit your mistakes, it makes your position stronger...and no-one will suspect when you do lie!!!
9. "Imagine outside the box, Solve inside the box"
The box represents conventional thinking, which is the result of ages of other's experience.
10. "Common Sense is a double negative"
-It is neither common, nor is it sensible. Therefore, assume everyone could be misinformed - including yourself.
11. "Stupidity is not a binary variable"
- Nor is cleverness, ingenuity, beauty, etc. Your relative degree of any attribute depends on what you're trying to achieve, so you can be a rocket scientist, yet still not make a better mousetrap, because mousetraps aren't rocket science!
12. "The natural state of humans is that of servants"
_Think about parents, teachers, salesman, repairmen...we all get satisfaction from serving someone...
In the words of Cheryl Crow - "It's nor having what you want, it's wanting what you've got."
13. "ENJOY THE NOISE"
Vent your rage, laugh until you ache, breathe deep. The only person you can be 100% certain will stand by is yourself, so do stand by yourself!
