"Prepare for the worst" or "Manifest a positive outcome" - which one are you?

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

I'm in a position where I am waiting for a couple of outcomes with zero control over what they will be. The outcomes are yes or no. I want YES for both.

I am generally a "prepare for the worst" and had this mentality for outcome one, which came back as a No. I was still very disappointed about this but assume my disappointment would be worse if I had been envisaging a positive outcome.

I have a couple of friends who are very much "positive mentality, wish it and it will happen" etc. I imagine this is a nice side to be on. I'm wondering if I should try and adopt a positive mentality for outcome two. Imagine getting a positive result, start thinking of how this positive result will impact my life, make lists of what I would need to do on getting the answer I want etc etc.

I wondered what others do? Prepare for the worst or imagine the best?

Hope for the best, but have a plan for the worst.

I always prepare for the worst, though ultimately you can't influence a situation by positive or negative thinking. The outcome will be what it will be and the only control we have (if it's an uncontrollable situation as I assume this is) is in how best to prepare ourselves for each scenario. And yes, this is different for everyone. There isn't really a right way to go about it.

I find it hard to understand serial positive thinkers even though I'm currently trying to act like them rather than take my usual safeguarding approach 😅

I prefer win-win mindset. Not always easy but whatwever you really want, you look for the upsides of not getting it. I do know manifesting types always end their manifestation of the positive outcome with the phrase: May this or something better happen' to allow that sometimes you don't get what you want because something WAY better is on the cards. This happened with our house move. Again and again lost house after house and nearly lost our buyers. Unbelievably stressful time. Then a house came on the market, needed a quick sale - it was way bigger than others we'd seen, much more beautiful and with an incredible view. We offered and got it. And all the houses we'd lost were so poor in comparison. Made me trust more in the notion that something even better could be around the corner.

Neither. I'm a "Don't borrow trouble" - if I can do nothing, there's nothing to be gained from worrying too much and manifestation is bollocks not very me.

This - I tend to have the outlook that everything that’s supposed to happen, will happen, however I make sure I have the resources/options if things go awry.

I remember some very good advice on how to visualise success in the book The Charisma Myth. It’s a really good book, especially if you are very career-minded.

I have a positive attitude. If the situation isn't within my control, I refuse to worry about it. If i get a no, I look at the reasons behind it and put in work so the decision may change in the future. I'm also very pragmatic with a "what will be will be" attitude.

I try and be stoic about these things - did I do what I could to influence the outcome? What could I do better next time & find the positives/gratitude in a no result.

Manifestation is twaddle. Life's just chance, luck and an bit of prep.

You might enjoy the Derren Brown episode of the Diary of a CEO podcast, OP. It covers this subject - I found it interesting.

There is literally zero I can do to affect the outcome. If its a No, there will still be an outcome, but not the one I wanted iyswim.

So I suppose hope for best is "wish for a Yes" and plan for the worst is "think about what life would be like if I get X"

I didn't aim for X, try and get it etc. But if I get a No, then X will happen.

You might enjoy the Derren Brown episode of the Diary of a CEO podcast, OP. It covers this subject - I found it interesting

Oh I have this waiting in my podcast app so will give it a listen thanks.

I'm definitely a hope for the best and have a contingency plan for the worst.

I don't buy in to the whole manifestation thing TBH. I actually think it's a bit worrying in terms of how much it's taken hold, especially in younger generations. There are some quite dark sides to it that I think are a bit troubling, I haven't heard the Derren Brown interview but suspect he might touch on them as I know his views on manifesting.

Prepare for the worst.

I am unfailingly positive. I never worry about what MIGHT happen. I deal with everything as it comes!

The closest I can compare it to, without giving too much detail, is primary school admissions.

You do what you can - live in the catchment, visit them all, put your preferences, but in the end, get what you are given.

So I can't improve my chances, will get an outcome regardless, but they outcome could be (1) the one I want (2) one I don't want or, even worse (3) neither of the above, and the shit end of the stick that no one wants but is all that's left.

I tend to hope for the best, but have a contingency plan in place, basically hope for the best, prepare for the worst. It stops me worrying about things I have no control over.

I'm "prepare for the worst" in the run up so I have plan b and "manifest a positive outlook" when the event is about to happen because whatever happens, there is an alternative / another fork in the road.

Yes

I'm very into manifestation meditations like these ones. Some people think it's all a bit woo but I do find that they really help to focus my mind and keep me positive. That being said, I do still try to come up with a contingency plan to cover all the bases.

Plan for the worst, hope for the best.

By plan, I mean accept you'll experience some kind of negative emotion, and have an idea of next actions.

Then hope.

I’m a “wait and see and worry/cheer about it when I know the answer”. I hate speculating. I do worry about things, but I don’t think there’s anything I can do in the meantime. If I need to prepare, I’ll try to prepare for both scenarios as they’re both possible.

I don't believe in manifestation. Positive thinking can help you spot opportunities you might miss - e.g. if you convince yourself you will find your dream job to apply for this month, you might look in more places to find it than if you decide it's never going to happen, and give up quickly. But it can't create that dream job for you.

Where I have no control over something, I take the view that you never really know what each outcome will bring, even if you get the outcome you want. In your example of school admissions - your child might get into the desired school but find themselves in a class full of bullies, for example - or they might get into the B choice school and land a wonderful, inspiring teacher and classmates they really gel with.

I’m usually in the ‘prepare for the worst’ camp but I think that has, after many decades, given me a rather negative attitude to everything tbh so I’m currently trying the ‘I’m so lucky, everything always works out for me’ attitude trick.

My days at work are really improving and I don’t feel so ground down and fed up of everyone. I’m assuming having a more positive outlook means it will feel easier to deal with the disappointment that comes, rather than feeling disappointed and then having a ‘it never goes right for me’ attitude.

Neither. Because sometimes what you really want wouldn't be the right outcome for reasons you don't know yet!

So, I leave it up to "fate" for want of a better word, not that I particularly believe in fate, in that things are predestined. Just that everything will work out as it should. I'm happy to live day to day, trusting that things will be allright in the end. So far, that's been the case.

Oh I'm a self confessed PITA and always prepare for the worst.

I would LOVE to be more positive and a glass half full type of person - like my DH and DD - but I know I live my life with a serious case of "Imposter syndrome." (Hangover from a very unwanted childhood.🤬)

Could kick myself at times, seriously, or better still someone come and kick me instead.😃