Is optimism and positive attitude counterproductive? Many believe that it is important to avoid being negative and instead to see the good in bad situations. However, the Buddha said that good and bad are fabricated concepts that do not exist. An individual who has attained nirvana is neutral and does not experience emotions. Although a Bodhisattva is certainly not negative and pessimistic, they cannot be positive and optimistic either.
Would seeing the bright side of things in life impede me from making spiritual progress?
Good householder, optimism and positive attitude is counterproductive (in regard of long lasting happiness) if the objects are in the world, object of sense. Joy, optimism, positive attitude toward awakening, skillful deeds... called &quot;pasada&quot; and arising after Saddha, which arises after Dukkha, are very needed tools to gain piti and the rest of releasing path till highest liberation, the Ariya-path. In short, all optimism and positive attitude toward that of what is actually subject of decay isn't smart, nurishes causes for suffering.
Useful talk on things less known here: Affirming the Truths of the Heart: The Buddhist Teachings on Samvega &amp; Pasada
May good householder have enough optimism and positive attitude to investigate here deeper and trust that it will be for his long term happiness.
Getting a human existance, meeting the Tripple Gems, go after it, such is indeed a bright life and it's actually cause, if meeting Dukkha together with the path for release, for highest happiness, Unbound. So one needs to rejoice actually with such a life, such a gain, meeting such possibilities, hard ever to meet.
Therefore mudita has to start with oneself (=anussati)
[Note that this isn't given for stacks, exchange, worldbinding trades but toward release from it.]