Congenital Optimism versus Realism

I think what made me more understanding and less critical of people in general was the understanding that people are simply far more optimistic than realistic. People are not so much dishonest or cunning, they sacrifice realism for happiness. (see "First-Rate Madness,” by Nassir Ghaemi)

For example, people overestimate how much control they have so that they may feel happier. This may be at least partly why realistic assessments of our political situation, eg. Buchanan's “Suicide of a Superpower,” are quickly buried. People congenitally insist on thinking happier thoughts.

The question is, what makes realistic individuals? Dr. Ghaemi suggests that depressed individuals are not so much misapprehending reality as they are starkly seeing reality in a world of overly optimistic people.

Starkly realistic leaders do seem to rise when we need them most to handle a crisis that only realism can handle. If realistic leaders do not rise than the culture can bury itself in congenital false optimism and decline or fall.