Painting a picture that's gloomier than the reality acts as a psychic buffering system. It's your way of bracing for the worst. If you expect the worst and get the worst, then it's a zero-sum game—no hope ventured; no disappointment gained. However, if you expect the worst and things turn out for the better, then you can celebrate your fortune in good conscience—that is, until you find something new to worry about. It's neurotic, but it's your version of a security blanket. That said, you may have to recalculate this equation when a certain someone winds up saying “yes” this week.