Can the good really outweigh the bad?

How many of us have heard this saying? When you look at life do you think that the good times outweigh the bad? Or do you feel that its pointless to hope for better times?

When you are going through bad times do you look back on your good times and does that help give you the strength to keep going?

When your going through good times do you worry about the bad times that you feel are surely headed your way? After all we all know nothing lasts forever.

Do you think that by claiming that the good times outweigh the bad that this is too PollyAnna? Is being a realist mean that you have to always be looking for the bad to happen?

Tags: bad, good, thoughts

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Char on October 7, 2008 at 8:43pm: If you had asked me this question 6 years ago, I would have said NO!!! I had just lost my father, my daughter and years later my mother, and was trying to get out of a very abusive relationship. I was as bad as you could get. But I did get out of that relationship due to my courage and the courage of a friend who came and got me one night. Once I was free of abuse, I could mend my wounds. I could carry on my daughters memory as well as my parents. I could actually smile again and feel total freedom..So, in getting rid of the bad, I made room for the good. I sure do like me a lot better now than I did then. So I do feel that yeah, the good outweighs the bad. But, I am all for positive thinking and if that makes me a Pollyanna, so be it. I would rather have had my daughter for 17 years, than to have never had her at all... see, it's all in your thinking! :); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Andriel on October 8, 2008 at 7:55pm: I'm glad you got out of that, it's so hard to escape and I don't think many people who haven't had to deal with it realize what it takes to get out.

I agree that the good does outweigh the bad, but I understand when we are in the middle of it why it seems the other way around.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Char on October 8, 2008 at 8:01pm: Yes, it is hard to get out... I ran for about 2 years straight until I finally came to NC and he left me alone. If you would have asked me about the good back then, I probably would have laughed in your face! But now, well things are no where near I want them to be, but I am still alive, I have a good job, and good memories of my daughter... What more could anyone really ask for? :); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Herbalair on October 8, 2008 at 8:06pm: I believe there are always good things to be seen but sometimes we get so wrapped up in the bad things that we lose sight of the good. Yes; bad times come and they will go. But those good things were always still there waiting for us.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by WoodSprite on October 8, 2008 at 9:40pm: My mother (Herbalair) couldn't have said it better... I've received the same sound advise from her in the past when I would become depressed or hurt by the events of my life. I also have heard another saying that really helps to put things into perspective.... "The sweet just isn't as sweet, without the sour". If you never face challenges, or sadness, or depression in your life, then you will never truly appriciate the good times when they do come....I hope this helps!

~Brightest Blessings~; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Andriel on October 8, 2008 at 9:52pm: Yes, I have heard similiar expressions. I agree with you guys.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by llunaticraven on October 8, 2008 at 10:57pm: Good out weigh the bad, I don't think of it that way, to me it's all cycles, sometimes the cycle just sucks. Doesn't mean that I shrug my shoulders and go back to bed, I do all I can to actively change the circumstances ......and maybe cuss a lot.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Andriel on October 9, 2008 at 12:38am: lol! yeah cussing seems to help, and maybe kicking a tire or slamming a door.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by WoodSprite on October 9, 2008 at 9:21pm: A foot stomp or two might be of assistance... Lol! At least I can say my sailor mouth is constructive! Lol!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by StormySkye on October 8, 2008 at 11:05pm: I think in order for things to be "good" we have to learn from our "bad" mistakes or our "bad" decisions.I always try to keep a positive outlook on things.We wouldn't be able to learn if we didn't have some "bad" in our lives.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Andriel on October 9, 2008 at 12:39am: this is a very good point, we do learn from the bad in our lives, if we learn the lesson before we often can turn things around to being a lot better than what we ever guess they could be,; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Yesache on October 9, 2008 at 1:30am: When I get down and sad...I make a list of good things and a list of bad things.....always the good outweighs
the bad; ▶ Reply to This