0
0
Realism is a personality trait that defies predictable classifications, and can be expressed in many different ways. We are ready to explore all of them. And to see how realism can truly change your life.
A “simple” definition
“Practical”, “pragmatic”, “down-to-earth”, “able to see things as they really are”, “thinking and acting on facts and what is possible, not hopes and unlikely events”.
That’s how dictionaries define realism – a quality that is becoming increasingly rare these days. Politicians make overblown promises just to win a handful of votes, social media push for unattainable models of beauty, success, and perfection, and people are scared to face a reality far from ideal, with its difficulties and ambiguities.
The many faces of realism
Then, what does it mean to be a realistic person, more concretely? In many cases, it requires us to think about a situation by taking a step back and looking at the objective facts, not just our assumptions and prejudices. In the frenetic times we are living in, we are submerged by an endless stream of news, and recommendation algorithms optimise for content that reinforces our biases. Only by slowing down and critically analysing the information presented to us can we make sense of complex questions. As our Rector Günther Dissertori said at this year’s ETH day, “we need more time to reflect”.
Being realistic also means accepting yourself as you are, with all your strengths and all your limits. Without any fear of letting down the excessive expectations we have about ourselves, and without being afraid to confront the judgment of others. In fact, engaging with people whose backgrounds and perspectives are different from our own can be instead an opportunity to grow and to understand more about who we are.
In addition to this, a realistic attitude toward life acknowledges that it cannot always go as we expect or wish. This means being ready to adapt to change, to challenge our own assumptions, and even to prepare for the worst. We are not the centre of the world, and it won’t wait for us to catch up in its unstoppable run.
At times realism seems to border on cynicism, or even outright pessimism. But that would be far from true: just as things cannot always be all well, they don’t necessarily go bad. And, of course, the mantra “nothing will change” cannot be an excuse not to tackle the problems that continuously arise.
Moreover, in some situations, a realistic attitude may detract from our emotional side. But we mustn’t forget that our aspirations are the fire that drives our actions and choices and that our feelings are invaluable to sense people and situations, just as our reasons. After all, we are humans, not cold, calculating machines.
A transformative choice
Well, being realistic looks overall really hard (no pun intended). But now, more than ever, we need to let realism into our lives. It will force us to abandon the inward-looking, delusional thinking which often holds us captive. It can make us more attentive to our inner mind, and more open to the people around us and to the world. Finally, it will make reality, however scary it may be, unfold with endless opportunities, ready to be seized.
