Answer to Question 1
Realistic optimism (Schnieder, 2001) is expecting good things to happen while employing appropriate reality checks.
Answer to Question 2
As Antonovsky (1987) proposed, stressors are not inherently pathogenic, but rather create tension. Depending on how we manage the tension, we will move toward the negative entropic end of the health continuum or the positive salutary end. Our challenge then is to learn to accept and adapt to our stress-filled environments so that we can move toward the salutary end of the health continuum. In order to do this, we need to be able to recognize what stresses us, step outside ourselves and observe our reactions, and develop coping skills for dealing with these stressors.