I’m snuggled in a cabin with my husband, looking out at Opal Creek Ancient Forest as torrents of rain come down. Perfect writing weather, and in fact the writing workshop I’m enrolled in will start in an hour or so.
My topic today is optimism, inspired by fellow blogger Sara at On Simplicity. While her post on optimism focuses on the benefits to the optimist, especially health benefits, I’m interested in its broader benefits to the world. Here is the comment I posted in response to her piece:
I’ve embraced optimism for most of my life, and more than a few people have noticed that I am joyful. I love to share my joy with others. (Emotions are contagious!) The people I most admire, though, are the ones who see the world’s problems with clear eyes — global warming, for example — and actively work on solutions to those problems. Some of the most vibrant, fully alive people I know work in sustainability. It takes creativity and resilience to not just deny that which is uncomfortable. Our culture excels at denial.
So, I see optimism as a kind of muscle we can develop in ourselves that doesn’t just make the optimist happier, but makes him/her a better problem-solver, and potential catalyst for social change. I’m interested to hear comments on this take . . . . conflicting views are welcome.
Even for “natural” optimists, it’s a trait that must be cultivated — and harvested! I’d put myself in the optimist category, but of course there are plenty of things that get me down and I have to work to get past them, just like we all do. Harvesting your optimism is the most important: looking beyond yourself, trying your best to rub off on others, and volunteering for causes that make the world a better place.