What % Optimist Are You?

By: Zoe Samuel
Estimated Completion Time
6 min
What % Optimist Are You?
Image: JLPH/Cultura/Getty Images

About This Quiz

Optimism is not so much an outlook as a philosophy. Optimists are not especially lucky or deluded. Optimists just see opportunities where others do not. They understand on a visceral level that every downturn has its upside, that a rising tide raises all ships, and that tomorrow can always be better than today, even and perhaps especially when today wasn't great.

Being an optimist has been shown to have tangible health and relationship benefits. Even some professions tend to be full of optimists. Entrepreneurs, for example, have to be optimists almost by definition. Imagine starting a new business, putting all your life savings into it, begging and borrowing from friends, family, strangers, taking out loans against your house, all the while believing the business will fail. Clearly, optimism makes more sense in that situation. The people who make the biggest changes in the world thus tend to be optimists who think their big idea is the one that will succeed.

While not all optimists are right 100% of the time, on balance, the outlook has proven a practical utility in navigating the world, both professionally and personally. Optimists tend to be happier and healthier, whereas pessimists and self-described realists can somatize their stress, ending up with sore necks, rashes and nails bitten to the quick.

So what percent optimist are you? We can discover it for you. Take this quiz and find out!

How did you do in college, socially speaking?
I had loads of wonderful friends I'll treasure forever.
I had a great circle of friends who I hung out with every day.
I had a few friends, one of whom I'm still in touch with.
I was a total outcast. My only friend was the janitor in the Main Building, who would politely listen because he didn't speak English.

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How do you feel when you open the paper in the morning?
Like anything is possible!
Like things are gonna be okay!
Like there's something in the air.
Like the world might come to an end.

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Do people often turn to you for emotional support?
All the time! I'm a ray of sunshine!
Sometimes. I'm a receptive ear.
From time to time. I'm a solid shoulder.
Only if they're looking for a reason to end it all.

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How lucky are you?
Everything goes my way.
The odds are always in my favor.
You never know when things will work out.
I never think things will work out.

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How quickly do you get promoted at work, in relation to the average?
It feels fast!
I think I punch above my weight.
I think the odds break about even.
I'm still an intern.

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How are your old injuries these days?
I feel fine!
I feel like I could go for a walk.
I feel like I'm injured enough to be in the Mets' starting rotation.
I feel like an old person.

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How do you feel about your friends from high school?
They were the best friends a person could have.
They were great for that chapter of my life.
They were okay.
They held me back.

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Where do you like to go on vacation?
Someplace amazing and beautiful!
Someplace nice and relaxing
Someplace fun and affordable
Elizabeth, New Jersey

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Do you think you'll ever have your dream job?
Sure! Someday soon.
I think it's going to happen.
It could happen!
It won't happen.

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How often do you go to the doctor for regular visits?
Twice a year
Once a year
When I remember to
I don't.

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How often do you put money aside, not for retirement, but just for a little treat down the road?
I do a little every day.
I do it around the holidays, starting around July.
I do it a couple times a year.
I don't.

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How often are you pleasantly surprised by your friends?
Somehow they manage to do it nearly every day.
Quite a lot of the time!
Every once in a while
My friends secretly hate me.

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When you were a kid, did you get away with shenanigans?
All the time. My folks couldn't blame me.
Most of the time. Grandpa would help me out.
Some of the time. I was very clever.
No. My family believed in using corporal punishment.

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How did you do in college, academically speaking?
I did reasonably well, but I'm sure that wasn't unusual.
I did well enough to land the job I wanted!
I had great grades, but grades aren't everything.
College was a waste of four years of my life.

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Do you play any sports?
Plenty! Sports are fun!
A few. Sports are fun when you're good.
One. Sports are a great way to stay in shape.
No. I broke my wrist and can never play again.

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Which of these games would you opt to play?
Five finger fillet
Baccarat
Roulette
Checkers

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How do you feel when you visit the doctor?
Like I'm going to hear how marvelous my health is.
Like I'm getting good advice on how to live well.
Like I'm going to catch anything bad before it gets worse.
Like I'm gonna die.

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Do you ever buy lottery tickets?
Every day!
Every week!
When there's a big jackpot!
The lottery is a tax on the stupid.

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What do you think when you see you have a bunch of mail?
Oh, boy! What wonders await?
I wonder if there's anything from Amazon!
Wow, do I have to slog through all of this?
How many of these are bills?

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What is your immediate reaction when your phone rings?
Oh! Did I win the Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstakes?
Could it be my old friend?
Is it a human being and not some stupid robocall?
What fresh Hell awaits me?

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How do you feel about airports?
They're wondrous! All that possibility!
They're so exciting! Everyone going all over the world!
At least they're not full of homeless people!
I'm going to die in a plane crash.

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How do you feel when you're about to make a major purchase, like buying a car?
This is so cool! I feel like I'm a real person!
I can't believe I'm going to own this thing! This is amazing!
Wow! An asset I can touch! This is cool.
My life savings could go up in flames because of some drunk who plows into my parked car. What am I thinking?!

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How do you feel when confronted with a large restaurant menu?
So many choices, each more wonderful than the last! How can I ever choose?
Oh, my! I may have to ask my waiter for a recommendation, so I don't sit here forever unable to pick out my meal!
Well, I can't say they won't have something I'll like!
I'm going to experience serious FOMO as soon as I place my order. Now I can't enjoy my meal.

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Which of these is most like your dream job?
Astronaut
Movie star
Inventor
Shoe salesman

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How active are you in planning for your retirement?
I stay on top of every decision.
I make sure I understand what's going on.
I trust things to experts and let them get on with it.
I'm pretty sure the whole system is going to collapse, so I'm stocking up on livestock.

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What holiday trip is on your bucket list?
Venice, Italy
Monument Valley
Mount Rushmore
Disneyworld

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Are you happy with your job?
Of course! It's wonderful! I feel so privileged.
Yes. It's fun and keeps me in food and clothes.
Yes, I guess it's better than what most people have to do.
No. I hate my job, my life, and myself.

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Have you ever entered a raffle?
Sure! Plenty of times!
Sure, a few times
Sure, for charity
No. They are a waste of money, even when done for charity.

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How do you feel when you have a major argument with your significant other?
Like things can only get better from here, and they will!
Like we've accomplished something, even if it was painful, and now we can heal.
Like statistically it was bound to happen sooner or later. At least now it's over.
Like we're going to break up.

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Do you consider yourself an optimist?
Oh, I dunno... I guess maybe.
I like to think I am. It's better than the alternative!
I hope I am. It's just saner that way.
No, I'm a realist.

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