On optimism

In My Humble Opinion
1

I see a lot of hopelessness on the Dope since the election. I’d like to fight against that, even in a small way.

I am an optimist. This is a choice I make, not a natural state of being – I choose to be an optimist because optimism is absolutely necessary for good things to happen. Hopeless and defeated people do not accomplish good or great things, only optimistic people do. The greatest achievements in human history, including triumphs over oppressive and discriminatory governmental and societal practices, required optimism by their champions and movement leaders and members alike.

I encourage others to make this choice to be optimistic, because without making this choice, nothing good can be accomplished.

2

I like to see the good things too!

Something positive is that it seems Trump is not going to follow through on many radical promises he made. Sounding more realistic now. (His supporters are not happy with this!)

And he somehow got Carrier to not move jobs to Mexico. That sounds good to me!

3

I consider myself to be more of a Stoic, but it works the same way. I expect life to have ups and downs, and when the downs come, I accept them and move on. My life is structured in such a way that I can tolerate the downs, and I surround myself with escape mechanism to mitigate their damage. I use the upsides to do work toward my goals, so when I can’t, I don’t have to dwell on the should-haves.

This is not something I consciously think about with a flow-chart, rather it is just a mindset I have develooped over a lifetime of reflection, which I can describe only in retrospect.

I’ve lived through a lot of presidential terms of office, starting with FDR’s, and I’ve learned to suffer fouls, not always gladly.

4

This is a good (and needed) thread. I know I have been catastrophizing. I tend to hover on the down-side of moodiness, not just about global/national events, but in my personal life, too. Too many losses and tragedies, I guess. In my next life, I’m going to be a glass-half-full optimist. I think it’s too late for this life. But thank you for this thread. :slight_smile:

5

I really appreciate your words today as well. I am finding my normal optimism well a bit tapped out lately. I am a natural optimist, and have been trying to be a source of positivity for my nearest and dearest…and it is wearing on me. And I don’t want them to see it or pick up on that, they need me.

I have never had a true depression in my 50+ years of life, but for the last week or so, I have this creeping sense of dread about the future that feels so alien to me. I work remotely, and I have spent the last few days being totally unproductive, just laying on the couch, very unlike me. I understand politics and political cycles, so I feel stupid this is affecting me this way. For the last three weeks I thought the people who were engaging in what I felt was histrionics were just over-reacting…then, I woke up this morning wondering…is this what depression feels like?

I am doing my best to shake it off and refill my well, so thank you again!

6

I’m a natural born skeptic (as opposed to a full blown cynic). But I appreciate the value of optimism in every day life. Best I can usually muster though, is a kind of cautious optimism that doesn’t leave me crushed when things go badly while leaving me pleasantly surprised when they actually do go right from time to time.

7

I always look on the bright side of life. <whistles>

8

I don’t think this thread is going to go well :wink:

On a serious note, which one of these is optimism:

  1. I hope things get better

  2. I’m pretty sure things are going to get better

  3. If I work at it, things will get better

9

Isn’t that pessimistic of you? :wink:

10

Any or all IMHO.

11

yay! I’m an optimist! I’m sure this great feeling won’t last, though :slight_smile:

12

Really? how do you figure? Look at his appointments. They certainly tell a different story. And this Carrier thing is bullshit.

13

Of course it’s bullshit. We all know this.

But in the spirit of optimism:

  1. Let’s assume the agreement won’t fall apart before it’s put into effect
  2. Some +/-1000 people got a stay of execution for a little while longer

I think we can all agree that’s better than the previous alternative.

14

Ummmm… not sure where that last statement belongs. :dubious:

15

Well I am being quite optimistic! :slight_smile:

Also it is relative as Einstein would say. Compared to everything else, these things appear to be positives. Sad, but that is our world these days…

16

Positism is a healthy way to live. It’s why I like parties, comedy movies, Christmas music, cocktails, sex, puppies, children laughing, games, etc.

Look it up, it’s proven.

17

I choose to be a realist, because that way my eyes will be open to the truth.

I don’t like “everything will be alright!” I’m as guilty of saying it as the next guy. It feels good to say. But seems to me it is frequently said right before a person plunges their head into the sand. I don’t want to be that person. My psyche isn’t that fragile that I can’t face the ungarnished truth about stuff.

I am not a Debbie Downer, though. I don’t think things will be nearly as bad as others do. I’m not out buying guns to keep the KKK from killing me and my cat. I’m not sending out resumes to employers in other countries. No, I plan to carry on like normal. I’m not planning on the worse happening at all.

But I can be 100% functional and still be wary about the things that are to come. I can be my normal, goofy, easy-going self and still recognize that some shit may go down, and I need to be ready for it if does. I don’t want to find myself rationalizing shit away just because it doesn’t fit with the “Everything’s gonna be alright!” narrative.

18

There are reasons for optimism, one big one being the success of the human species in creating a high-tech global civilization.

Alas, there are also reasons for dismay, especially in the local, proximate situation. We’re about to lose a hell of a lot of our civil rights.

And in the most immediate sense, I’m about to lose my job. (Seasonal temp job, not intended to be permanent anyway. And it was fun!)

19

Expect the worst and hope for the best has always been my outlook.

20

Thanks for your input. I think optimism is compatible with this mindset, though it may depend on your definition of optimism.