Some ways that optimism can be detrimental include: Optimism bias: Sometimes excessive optimism can lead people to overestimate the likelihood that they can experience good things while avoiding bad things. The optimism bias suggests that people often underestimate their risk of experiencing negative outcomes.

Is being optimistic a bad thing?

Being too optimistic can lead to impracticality and overconfidence. If you don't think about what could go wrong, you won't be able to prevent it from happening. Mental strength stems from a good balance of realism and optimism. Developing comfort with the truth will help you build mental muscle.

Can optimism be toxic?

True optimism is always grounded in reality.

It's been known for decades that optimists are happier and more resilient than pessimists. However, optimism and positive thinking aren't panaceas and can be downright toxic when they're harnessed to deny reality or used to bludgeon other people.