Pessimist won’t cheer optimist partner’s joys

Hello, Carolyn: My partner often feels I don’t react to events in his life as a supportive partner.

He believes that when he is excited about something or happy about an upcoming event, I should be just as happy as he is, and express myself that way to support him.

I am more of a glass-half-empty kind of woman, so it is difficult for me to express myself otherwise. I always seem to want to talk about the whatifs and my concerns and my personal outlook on things, which always differs from his.

This upsets him very much and usually causes him to lash out at me, saying I need to stop this and start thinking about how it ruins the moment for him. He tells me no one else who loves him reacts this way but me.

I feel this is controlling behavior on his part: “If I share something with you that is good to me, you have to say only positive things about it as well, otherwise I am going to get mad at you.”

So what am I supposed to do? Give in and stop being me and only say what I know will make him happy? Or say what I am really thinking at the time, which I know he does not want to hear and will get angry with me for saying?

— Annoyed and Confused

About this “give in” thing — is it possible? Can you, in fact “stop being me” and “only say what I know will make him happy?”

If it is, then yes, try a loving, “That’s great, (partner’s name) — I’m so happy for you.”

Because that’s not caving, and asking you to check your pessimism is not “controlling.” His lashing out is childish, certainly, but the frustration it expresses is legitimate. You keep doing what you “always seem to want” without regard for how that affects him.

Really? Why?

Again, it’s possible for you to quit the what-ifs, then, yes: Choose to honor your partner’s wish. “Hey, that sounds great.” Your outlook works for you but doesn’t for him, so why keep pushing it? How do you expect him to benefit from your popping all his balloons? Meeting his needs doesn’t automatically mean denying your essential self.

Granted, sometimes it’s not so simple. Maybe your pessimism is so ingrained that any cheerleading sounds insincere. Maybe your partner’s unchecked optimism gets him (and you by extension) in trouble — certainly there can be mood, health and financial consequences to getting swept up in the latest greatest thing.

Even these cases, though, don’t justify your insistence on citing whatifs, for the simple reason that it’s not working. He doesn’t appreciate the reality checks. He doesn’t embrace your counsel as a welcome counterweight.

So find a way to be sincere in sharing his joy. Forget looking for happiness in a potential outcome, since it’s not in your nature; look instead for the happiness in him, in his face. Find the happy in seeing him happy. Consider a formal depression and anxiety screening if there’s zero joy to be found.

If he does genuinely benefit from your grounding influence, then that’s all the more reason to find a more effective way to exert it. Cheer him on first, if that’s what works with him — then step in later if and only if you see real peril ahead.

IF all of this is possible.

If instead you’re unable to hold back, or if holding back leaves you uncomfortable in your own skin, then you need to say so to your partner, with your profound apologies. “I cannot be the person you want or need me to be. I cannot express the enthusiasm you want when my entire brain screams caution.”

And: “So we need either to give up wanting and trying to change each other, or to break up.”

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