Are You More Pragmatic or Idealistic?

LIFESTYLE

By: Raj Chander

6 Min Quiz

Image: Morsa Images/DigitalVision/Getty Images

About This Quiz

The famous philosopher Epictetus once said: "It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

In other words, much of the way we experience life is determined by our attitude. And when it comes to attitude, there are generally two different kinds of people.

The pragmatist is the type of person who puts on rain boots when there's a 30% chance of precipitation. Sure, it's nice to expect the best, they reason, but it makes more sense to prepare for the worst. They aren't necessarily negative people, they just believe that it's always better to be pleasantly surprised at things going well than to be caught off guard when things go poorly.

At the opposite end of the spectrum is the idealist. These are the people who helped coin the phrase, "rose-colored glasses." They expect people and events in their life to function in an ideal manner at all times. As they believe it, their next plan, idea, or attempt will go off smoothly and without a hitch. These are the people who can find the silver lining on even the darkest, ugliest storm cloud.

Most people fall somewhere in the middle of this spectrum of life perspective. Are you wondering whether you are more of a realist or a dreamer? Give us your honest responses to the scenarios below and we'll tell you.

We all have to work for a living. How close is your current job to your dream job?

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Our physical spaces are a reflection of us. How clean do you keep your bedroom?

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You wake up and peek out the window to see a cloudy, overcast sky. What do you expect for the rest of the day?

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You are planning a camping trip with some friends. What are you packing?

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Meeting new people is a big part of life. How often do you strike up conversations with strangers?

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Your boss calls you into his office and assigns you a difficult project. What's your reaction?

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Do you tend to make decisions based more on how you feel, or how you think?

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Only certain kinds of people participate in philanthropy. How often do you donate to charity?

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What's your attitude about playing the lottery?

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From time to time we all interact with folks we haven't met. How much do you like meeting new people?

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Entrepreneurship is an important part of society. Would you ever think about starting a business?

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Everyone has things they enjoy doing. What's your favorite recreational activity?

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Some people are scared of tempting fate. How superstitious are you?

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You're at a coffee shop and have to use the bathroom. What do you do with your stuff?

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They say children are our future. What's your attitude about kids?

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The first part of our day says a lot about us. How early do you wake up?

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Exercise is an important part of a healthy life. How physically active are you?

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What do you think of the smash-hit television show "Shark Tank"?

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Speaking of business and money – do you invest in the stock market?

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If you could go anywhere in the world on a trip, where would it be?

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You're walking down the street and come across some loose change on the ground. What do you do?

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You've just sat down at dinner on a first date. What's your approach to the conversation?

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You're at work and someone tells you something bad about another coworker. What do you do in response?

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How punctual are you?

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Keeping our lives together is important. How do you stay organized?

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It's been a long day at the office. How are you unwinding?

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Compromise is the foundation of most successful relationships. How do you approach compromise?

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What is your current relationship status?

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How many siblings do you have?

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You're getting ready for a formal event. What kind of outfit do you wear?

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