Optimistic Pessimism / Daniella London Dekel

Four days before the elections, Daniella London Dekel describes in a personal column the emotional swing between hope and despair. She recalls a 1977 article by Menachem Begin and finds comfort in history. The writer explains that she is trying to lower expectations and prepare herself mentally for the possibility of defeat, citing research on 'Bracing for the Worst'.

Four days before the elections in Israel, Daniella London Dekel describes in a personal column her emotional swing between hope and despair. She recalls similar feelings from the ninth month of her first pregnancy, and compares preparing for the elections to packing a bag for the delivery room. The writer quotes an article by Menachem Begin from 13 May 1977, four days before the 'Mahapach' (upheaval), in which he came out against the Alignment's scare campaign. She notes that there is no connection between the Likud of then and the Likud of today, but finds comfort in the fact that even then citizens thought the elections were fateful. London Dekel explains that she is trying to lower expectations and prepare herself mentally for a disappointing result, and mentions a study from the University of California on 'Bracing for the Worst' — preparing for the worst. She argues that preparing for the possibility of defeat is not despair, but mental insurance that will allow her not to sink into despair in the event of a loss.