Glass half full

Is Angela Merkel's glass half full or half empty?!

How are you feeling about life? Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

Rob and Finn discuss how science is trying to find out what makes us think positively or negatively.

They also explain how we feel when we say our glass is half empty and when we say it's half full.

So, what kind of person are you? We hear from some of our learners.

This week's question:

Who wrote this famous line? "A pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." Was it:

a)    Winston Churchill b) Oscar Wilde c) Charles Dickens

Vocabulary:

an optimist -  someone who thinks good things will happen

a pessimist - someone who always thinks bad things will happen in a situation

a state of mind - how you feel and what you think

influence - have an effect (on something or someone)

trigger - cause / make happen

depression - a medical condition where someone is very unhappy and cannot lead a normal life

point of view - how someone judges a situation

personality -  how you behave, feel and think

drivers  - (in this situation) things that make something else happen

traits - particular qualities or characteristics that someone has

You can listen here

Rob: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English, I'm Rob and with me is Finn.

Finn: Hello Rob.

Rob: You sound very cheerful – so, how are you feeling?

Finn: I'm good thanks. Things are going well. I'm here in the studio with you, I'm going on holiday next week, and I'm really enjoying this cold weather.

Rob: Really – I think it's miserable outside but I suppose you're a good example of an optimist - someone who always looks at life from a positive point of view. It's a good thing, Finn. The opposite of an optimist is, of course, a pessimist.

Finn: Well Rob, there is some hope for pessimists because research is taking place to see if people's attitude to life can be switched from negative to positive.

Rob: Well I'll drink to that! Finn, here's a glass of lemonade to celebrate – the only thing is - it's half empty, there's not much left in there.

Finn: Stop complaining Rob – that's half full – look, there's still enough to enjoy.

Rob: If you say so. We'll explain more about that glass half empty saying shortly. But first, how optimistic are you about getting today's question right?

Finn: Extremely positive.

Rob: OK. Well do you know who wrote this famous quote: "A pessimist sees difficulty in  every opportunity. An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty". Was it:

a) Winston Churchill

b) Oscar Wilde

c) Charles Dickens

Finn: It's a good quote. I'm not sure but I think I'll say b) Oscar Wilde.

Rob: You sound optimistic! I'll give you the answer at the end of the programme. So we are talking about being an optimist or a pessimist. It's not something that can be easily measured; it more of a state of mind.

Finn: A state of mind is how you think or feel. There are many factors that can influence – or affect this. Certain events in a person's life, such as someone you know dying, or losing your job, can trigger – or cause – a negative feeling about life.

Rob: And people with depression – a medical condition where someone is very unhappy

– tend to be pessimistic.

Finn: Indeed. But scientists are now looking inside our heads to see what's going on and if there is a way to change how we feel.

 Rob: A medical journalist and doctor called Michael Mosley has been looking into this. He says our attitude to life – the positive or negative way we view life – affects our personality.

Finn: What phrase does he use to describe the importance of optimism and pessimism in our characters?

Medical journalist and doctor, Michael Mosley:

Our personalities are a complex interaction of character traits that affect behaviour, emotions and ultimately the lives we lead. And one of the fundamental drivers is how optimistic or pessimistic we are. This is also one of the hottest new areas of scientific research.

Rob: OK, so he says one of the fundamental drivers in shaping our personality is how optimistic or pessimistic we are. A fundamental driver means the most important thing that makes something happen.

Finn: So our outlook on life drives – or shapes – our behaviour, our emotions and character traits – traits are the particular qualities we have. This subject is described as 'one of the hottest new areas of research' – hottest here means latest and most popular.

Rob: And the research may find a way to change people from seeing a glass being half empty to one that is half full.

Finn: There's that phrase again! We sometimes say pessimistic people describe a glass of water or beer as being half empty – they have already drunk half of it and there's not much left.

Rob: But someone who is optimistic, like you Finn, would view the glass as being half full

– there is still half of the drink left to enjoy. It really depends on your point of view – how you view things.

Finn: We asked our BBC Learning English audience how full or empty their glass is. What have they been saying?

Rob: Mariola says "My glass is half full because I'm going on holiday next Friday!"

Finn: And Raquel says "My glass is always half full because it's the best way to be happy!"

Rob: But Mon Tran says "My glass is half empty. I'm far away from my family and missing them so much."

Finn: Well maybe scientists will be able to help Mon Tran and others to feel more optimistic about life in the future? Well Rob, I'm optimistic that I got today's quiz question right.

Rob: Let's find out. Earlier I asked who wrote this famous quote: "A pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."

Finn: I said b) Oscar Wilde.

Rob: You are wrong. They were the words of Winston Churchill. Ok that's it for this programme. Do join us again soon for more 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English.

Both: Bye.