Setting goals and working to achieve them is an inherently optimistic exercise: You want more and better, and you believe that you have what it takes to do the work and reap the rewards. But sometimes showing your pessimistic side can help you achieve your goals faster.

Are you a pessimist or an optimist? It's something that is important to find out about yourself as it not only affects your personal well being but it can also impact how you operate at work. Here's how you can identify whether you're a pessimist or optimist and how you can start to change your mindset to a more positive one.

Have you ever found yourself in a debate with your mates after a few too many about whether the glass is really half full or half empty? Of course most of us know that how you view the proverbial glass within these parameters is believed to tell you something about your personality. Generally speaking, if you see the cup as half empty, you’re considered a pessimist. Whereas viewing the glass as half full, makes you an optimist. So which one are you? Why is it so important to know? Can you change from being a pessimist to an optimist? Let's find out.

Positive thinking and striving for happiness are common goals associated with self-improvement. It seems that they're becoming more pervasive within company cultures, too, as employee happiness, customer happiness and a focus on productivity pop up in more company culture documents and mission statements.

At first glance, it seems like a step forward for company leaders to be focusing on the emotional health of employees and customers. But there's more to positive thinking than might appear on the surface.