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On Optimism (pg. 6)
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| sufee_b |
| if everyone is being optimistic and looking down and saying it could be worse, there must be someone at the bottom of the pile o' of the problem...optimism is an idealist's way |
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| English Rachel |
| quote: | Originally posted by sufee_b
if everyone is being optimistic and looking down and saying it could be worse, there must be someone at the bottom of the pile o' of the problem...optimism is an idealist's way |
Why so? Why can't we all look for the good in people and work with some terrible occurences to come out on top in the face of adversity?
There doesn't have to be anyone at the bottom of the pile.
In fact, pessimists should be shot.
Or sent to Sudbury. |
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| sufee_b |
| quote: | Originally posted by English Rachel
Why so? Why can't we all look for the good in people and work with some terrible occurences to come out on top in the face of adversity?
There doesn't have to be anyone at the bottom of the pile.
In fact, pessimists should be shot.
Or sent to Sudbury. |
Sudbury? lol
But pessimists expect the worst, the may hope for the best but expect/prepare for the worse..thats not always a bad thing. Speaking of Sudbury, thats where the Ontario tax centre is..I always exoect the worse when doing my taxes and expect to pay a load to the Guv...am I a pessimist? |
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| English Rachel |
| quote: | Originally posted by sufee_b
Sudbury? lol
But pessimists expect the worst, the may hope for the best but expect/prepare for the worse..thats not always a bad thing. Speaking of Sudbury, thats where the Ontario tax centre is..I always exoect the worse when doing my taxes and expect to pay a load to the Guv...am I a pessimist? |
PREPARING for the worst is more than fine, encouraged, in fact. EXPECTING is a different matter and the epitome of pessimism.
PREPARE to pay a load to the government (by keeping some cashola aside) and hope to pay a little (which could mean you could blow the aforementioned saved cashola on buying something that gives you pleasure).
Don't expect anything. Optimists don't expect the best, they hope for it.
But then after my little blip in my optimistic journey, who the am I to advise? |
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| sufee_b |
| quote: | Originally posted by English Rachel
PREPARING for the worst is more than fine, encouraged, in fact. EXPECTING is a different matter and the epitome of pessimism.
PREPARE to pay a load to the government (by keeping some cashola aside) and hope to pay a little (which could mean you could blow the aforementioned saved cashola on buying something that gives you pleasure).
Don't expect anything. Optimists don't expect the best, they hope for it.
But then after my little blip in my optimistic journey, who the am I to advise? |
I once played Roulette..I was winning so much....I put a Load of chips on 37/38 numbers..like piles of chips...I figured I would get at least something back...it landed on number 27, the only number I didnt put chips on..a 1/37 chance. I shouldve expected the worst? =( |
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| shanny |
| quote: | Originally posted by jennypie
Is it really hope though? Do you think optimism exists on it's own? Or do you think it's a product of fear?
I think there's very few people in the world who are true optimists. You can't expect everyone to rationalize the same way. It's naive and unrealistic. |
It is not necessary that optimism does exist on it's own. In my life there certainly are things are afraid of, and often times optimism aligns itself with my fear, just as many times it doesn't.
I doubt that there are many people who can say that they are afraid of nothing, but certainly what can be argued is that there are times when optimism exists (in that circumstance in particular) in the absence of fear.
I don't think linking optimism with fear is what is important.
Addressing your second point, look back at what my first few paragraphs said...
| quote: | Originally posted by shanny
Imagine this essay as an argument for how to live your life in the best way possible. Similar to a doctrine like "Utilitarianism" by John Stuart Mill or The Bible.It is a collection of thoughts and influences put together into one guiding constitution that suggests a way to live better than all others.
I start by saying that the idea of being optimistic is not something many people utilize in their lives. All too often people focus on past experiences, dwelling on negatives in a situation and worrying about things they have no control over. What makes this particularly interesting is that many recognize what it is that is troubling them and may even acknowledge the fact that a possible solution would be to "find the silver lining" or "not cry over spilled milk."
This is an attempt to put forth an argument for how one can incorporate any number of sources to develop their individualized version of Optimism.
Something important to recognize before even beginning is that what I am writing is the way I have used influences in my life to develop my version of Optimism. For each person reading it they will draw on their own past, experiences and influences to develop their own version of Optimism, while still falling under its umbrella.
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I wanted to make this idea something that was not exclusive. Even though I have transcribed my thoughts in this particular way, I do not want people to change their philosophy to be exactly what I have written down.
When I speak about coming up with their own individualized version of Optimism what I am referring to is combining the specific influences in your life that are supremely important, and then having faith in goodness, which is why I have given the entire thing the label of optimism.
I don't expect everyone to rank staying true to themselves as the number one priority in their life, nor do I think they should all let things go as a rule. Those are things that work for me, and since I was writing down my life philosophy I included them because they are relevant in the entire package. But what I think most people can benefit from is the idea of putting together a group of influences and arguments to combine a type of superargument that is the one that they live by.
As part of that argument, I am arguing that faith will be a necessary part of your superargument. And what I am arguing that you have faith in is goodness. |
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| shanny |
| quote: | Originally posted by MissK
I am living proof of being the person whom had utmost confidence within all my actions and was never deeply affected by negatives around me. And then letting someone influence my beliefs and change my guidelines and genetic makeup of who I was to question my actions and thought processes. I will be the first to say that I was WAY more happy living in my optimistic world.
But then I question would I have ever let this person affect me so deeply had I never been so blind with my optimism. |
Katy your points are brilliant, and if there is one aspect of an optimistic attitude that is more potentially problematic than others it is that people who are like this are quicker to trust than others.
In my life just like yours, I have given my trust to people, and been burned in the process. This is positive proof that at certain times optimism will fail. Just like any philosophy will fail. It is not about trying to have an undefeated record all the way throughout life, but about having the most enjoyment over the entire thing combined.
The other side of the story is that your trust allows you to develop more friendships, and to develop deeper bonds more quickly with more people than if you went into every relationship doubting people.
This doesn't mean you can't learn from your mistakes, you certainly can look at what has happened to you in the past and try to not let it happen in the future. And the entire time you do it you will be maximizing your enjoyment. |
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| Silky Johnson |
Welp, I think a much simpler and more universal form of optimism is accountability.
Once you start owning up to all your thoughts and actions, you're more likely to choose an attitude that produces more positive results. |
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| Cro_Addict |
i didn't even read this thread...however seeing that Shanny started it and its a pretty long post, i know its something very philosophical.
Well thats all...I just wanted to let you all know that I KNOW...but I am not contributing.
Thank you for your time.
Respectfully Yours,
Rob (Yea...thats my real name :whip: )
BIOOOOOTCH!!! |
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| eRRaTiK |
good read. i recommend you read it and apply it to your own lives.
oh and re: all this discussion the only thing that you can change is YOURSELF. Don't bother bout everybody else, just focus on you.
If you come from a place where you truly love who you are, including all your apparent faults (in reality they're not faults at all, you've just been programmed to see them that way), then nothing can really phase you.
/COR version |
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| Zentac_75 |
| quote: | Originally posted by jennypie
Welp, I think a much simpler and more universal form of optimism is accountability.
Once you start owning up to all your thoughts and actions, you're more likely to choose an attitude that produces more positive results. |
*applause*
K.I.S.S. |
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| SuperJimbo |
| quote: | Originally posted by jennypie
Welp, I think a much simpler and more universal form of optimism is accountability.
Once you start owning up to all your thoughts and actions, you're more likely to choose an attitude that produces more positive results. |
Interesting. I am not exactly sure how accountability is a "more universal form of optimism", but I think I get your point (and agree). I assume you are a proponent of being accountable to others, not just yourself.
For me, accountability to others - especially to people whom I respect, and who have high standards - is an excellent motivating force. |
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