Optimism....is it what people make it out to be???

Going by the trend of my posts....this is for the month of May I suppose. One glance at the title would perhaps bring about two thoughts in your mind...either the writer is into philosophy or else the desperate blogger couldn't find anything better. But this is one word which I find fascinating and would definitely like to talk about.

Let me set the record straight....I am no optimist but that doesn't mean I am a pessimist. I prefer being realistic. I guess people have created a monster out of that simple word from our grammer texts. From millions of books and audio cassettes to the standardised recruitment criteria(inviting artificial answers), we find optimism everywhere. Optimism is natural to human beings. A person on the verge of execution would ofcourse think about averting the imminent death. That is optimism if you call it so...I just call it wishful thinking. On the other hand, a Company in the red would obviously aim at turning things around. What's so optimistic about that? They have no choice but to rise. Setting a target....is it optimism then??? Setting a target beyond the normal trend but knowing that it is achievable with a bit more of extra effort and having a roadmap for that is reasonable, rest is foolishness. As a retail professional, I have been a witness to many weekly meetings....where the team is given an inflated target and the next week the team is battered for not achieving so.What happens is that, initially the team tries very hard to achieve that figure(you see they are an optimistic lot) but as the day draws to an end they realise the impossibility of the task at hand(now they are a realistic lot).In the next meeting, they have to keep their heads low as their competency levels are questioned(finally they turn into a pessimistic lot).And that last bit remains with them for some weeks to come. 

Why make this unnecessary and self-defeating journey???Why can't we all be "realistic" in our approach and stop exaggerating our so-called optimism.I know people would tell me great things wouldn't have been invented, great places not discovered and great businesses not established if not for "optimism".Was that really optimism that did the trick or was it just a mix of realistic approach,self-belief,honesty and right application of knowledge??? If these all are collectively called optimism then I am fine with it or else the word is redundant.

I know this post lacks structure but I am "optimistic" that you will get what I meant and you will get to live another day with your brain intact but incase you are lost amidst the words, please be "optimistic" about retaining your sanity!!!