6 benefits of being realistic

Realism, according to the RAE, is that way of seeing things without idealizing them. Although we all work with an interpreted (and not photocopied) reality, there are some that are closer to the facts than others. In the case of realism, we are talking about a way of interpreting things that moves away from preconceived ideas, illusions or excessively high expectations. But are there benefits to being realistic? Which are?

In this article we talk about 6 of them. As we will see, we can be realistic in multiple areas of our lives: at work, in social life, in academic life, in personal life… And that dose of realism can have certain advantages associated with it that we can take advantage of if we know how to identify them.

Benefits of being realistic

Is it realistic to place ourselves at a midpoint between optimism and pessimism? What do you think? The truth is that it is not easy to reach this middle point (if it exists) when analyzing things. Surely, “neutrality” when interpreting reality does not existbut we can learn to be a little more realistic and aware of what is “really” happening and what is not.

Being an optimist or a pessimist has positive and negative aspects. However, in the case of realism, what are the benefits of being realist? We leave you 6 of them to reflect on.

Minimize the possibility of a surprise

One of the benefits of being realistic is that, by being realistic, we reduce the probability of getting a surprise (which could be negative). This can be especially useful for people who need to feel like they “control” their environment, or who are more methodical and planners.

Thus, when we are realistic, we try not to get carried away by expectations and illusions, which allows us, in a way, to have the situation a little more under control. This includes reducing unnecessary risks or unwanted surprises.

Help plan

Another benefit of being realistic is that it can help us develop a clear strategy and goal. According to John Maxwell, writer and personal growth coach, in his book Think to get a change, Hope is very important to achieve a goal but it is not a strategy.

When we understand this, we are forced to establish and design specific strategies and goals, as well as an action plan that leads us to achieve what we want.

Helps understand the problems

Being realistic allows us to be closer to what we want and to all the obstacles that we will have to face to get there. That is, it allows us understand the real situation more objectively and consciously. This can help us understand the possible difficulties that we will have to face and, above all, to think about how to overcome them.

Promotes positive thinking

Positive thinking is not enough to make things go well; It also takes effort, work and perseverance. However, positive thinking is an element that can make things easier for us, because it can help us motivate ourselves and not give up the first time.

In this sense, another benefit of being realistic is that allows us to evaluate risks and scenarios more consciously, in addition to helping us promote good planning. This can gradually bring us closer to positive thinking, since if things go well thanks to this good planning, this type of thinking can be nourished little by little.

Test ideas

When we are realistic we assume reality as it is, without biases or illusions that could interfere with its interpretation. On the other hand, when we are excessively optimistic, we can impulsively risk everything, and as a consequence, also lose everything. On the contrary, a good dose of realism allows us to test our ideas a little more safely and conscious.

Build credibility

Another benefit of being realistic, especially for people who must lead teams, is that it can promote one’s credibility on the part of the team. Because? Because when leaders must face complicated situations and act with too high expectations, they can make mistakes and “be exposed” for their management of the situation (often, for having been delusional).

Instead, When a leader acts realistically, he acts by evaluating the different options available to him in a more objective way., as well as the different obstacles and scenarios you must face, you can plan your strategy well, etc. And that, logically, can lead to positive results that increase his team’s confidence in him (not only because of the good results, but also because of the good management of the situation).

Is there a single reality?

When we interpret reality, we do so through our own filter. This filter is nourished by our desires, beliefs, expectations, previous experiences, personal characteristics… So, we can never say that there is a single reality for everyone or that reality is 100% objective.

However, Yes, we can be more or less realistic when we do not let ourselves be carried away so much by what we want, but by what we are seeing through our own eyes.. Being realistic implies, to a large extent, managing adjusted perceptions and ideas of what is happening; elements with which our mind works and that are more likely when we handle good doses of information.

That is why the benefits of being realistic exist, and these have to do with minimizing risks, above all, although being realistic can also entail some negative aspects (for example: losing hope or becoming excessively rational). And you, are you more realistic or more of a dreamer?

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