Encouragement is often taken for granted or missed completely because it tends to be private, not public. And, although there are identifiable words and behaviors which are correlated with encouragement, in many ways it is best manifested by an attitude that nonverbally communicates caring and compassion. Fundamental psychological differences exist between optimistic and pessimistic orientations. For example, pessimists are more likely to believe that bad events will last a long time, that they will undermine all other activities, and that the source of such events is their own fault. When confronted with similar challenges, optimists view defeat merely as a temporary setback, believing that the causes are confined to the particular situation and that circumstances, bad luck, or other people brought it about.
Pessimists give up more easily and get depressed more frequently.
Conversely, optimists do better at work and school and in athletic events, they exceed predictions of aptitude tests, are more frequently elected to public office, have better health, and live longer. For example, a poor performance rating does not cause an employee to be depressed. The encouraging aspect of cognitive therapy underscores that beliefs are subjective and therefore in the power of the individual involved to change. Thus, beliefs can and often must be shifted from a discouraged, pessimistic explanatory style to an encouraged, optimistic one. People who blame themselves when they fail have low self-esteem as a consequence.