I believe if we were to face ourselves as we truly are, and as
   we appear to be from all perspectives at once (everybody we ever
   knew, or will know), from the perspective of the grass we step
   on, from the bacteria that inhabit us, all simultaneously, we
   just couldn't handle the cognitive load and might find it
   terrifying to face.

   I'm talking about both the right and wrong impressions others
   have of us, and the ones we have of ourselves. Reality includes
   a *lot* of fiction, alas.

   Escaping to more idealistic territory, well,I don't think
   there's a part of human history that didn't have some sort of
   utopian dream.

   Even "I wish everybody could see all the bullshit out there and
   the lies they tell themselves" - is a form of optimism. There's
   a utopian vision hiding in there. "jilted optimist" as it were.

   The main other option that I see (and there are undoubtedly more
   than 2) - is situation-by-situation "facing reality". Even then,
   there is optimism about a particular situation, goal-oriented
   behavior whose foundation is on an individual needs/wants basis.

   As long as there is a complaint or a wish, or even a bit of
   wistful thinking, there's an optimist, an idealist and a dreamer
   hiding within. [imho]

   It's not necessarily a bad thing either. You have hope because
   you haven't given up.