Optimism Isn't Easy

Optimism Isn't Easy

So it's easy to see there's currently a wave of euphoria, optimism, hope, benevolence, enthusiasm in the world. The faces we saw in Chicago the night of November 4th, those were not just "Our team won." Those were new faces of optimism and hope, and a personal committment to Yes WE can!

Folks who are older might say "Been there, seen that. How long will it last?"
Here's the deeper question: Why doesn't it seem to last?

One psychobiological researcher (Lionel Tiger, Optimism: The Biology of Hope) claims humans by nature are naturally more optimistic than pessimistic; they tend to underestimate dangers and overestimate potential success. (Of course, we all know exceptions to this!)
So why might we expect optimism and enthusiasm to fade? I'd like to ponder this question with you, and examine some things to consider. I plan to raise more questions than I answer.

Is it the hard work that follows? There is an unusual amount of realization, in the current wave, that "the work is just beginning, and the work is not someone else's to do, it's mine." Is it social pressures to go back to the old ways of thinking and acting? Those certainly abound. Is it not being willing to be unpopular, to perhaps lose some friends? Is it resistance to change, fear of the new and unknown? Is it fear of failure, or fear of success? Are we afraid to try and be disappointed with the results? Is it because we can rarely agree on goals and methods? Is it because we believe it's dangerous to expect good, that our alertness to danger will be clouded by our optimism? Do we feel unsafe to feel safe? Will success set us up for failure because we won't be on our guard enough?

Are we afraid to stay optimismtic because then we won't have any excuses for not reaching our goals? Are we afraid we'll reach our goals and they won't be what we wanted, and then we'll not know what to do next, and have to start all over?

Are we just used to our pessimism? Certainly the current world situation comes crashing in many times a day, with news that's a downer. And our personal lives, lots of downers there. Is optimism unrealistic? What does it mean, the saying that "If at first you don't succeed, failure might be more your style."

It's scary to entertain new possibilities that did not seem possible before. So many "What if's?" in the way....

There's optimism about stuff "out there," and there's the hard reality of assuming some responsibility for that, "in here." There's an uneasy balancing act, always between working as an individual and working as a team or group; we don't always know how to work together, especially with folks different from us. "Yes I can" doesn't easily morph into "Yes We Can." How shall we learn to combine those synergistically? Who can teach us that?

Optimism. What is it? Not the "Pollyanna" denial of anything except one's desired outcomes. Nothing fades faster than optimism that denies what is. Not superficial looking, either. Nothing fades faster than optimism which doesn't look deeply into causes.

Fear comes up. About what?

Does it take more effort to be optimistic than pessimistic?

What are the advantages of optimism? Helps you persevere. Helps you be creative in your efforts. Helps you be willing to expand. What are some other advantages?

What are the disadvantages to optimism? Can blind you to current reality. Can switch to discouragement really fast if expectations exist and are not met. What are some other disadvantages?

What did we have before this wave of optimism? Apathy. Hopelessness. Withdrawal. Pessimism. Cynicism. Skepticism. What's different now?

Optimism ABOUT WHAT?

The Bigger Picture as I see it: The world is more conducive now. Something in the energy of the planet has shifted, and our optimism is not just a response to events; the events are a response to the energy shift. Now the wind is at our backs. Now we can get supported when we're down. Now we can learn.

Who we are has shifted. The context in which we view our lives has shifted. What is REAL to us, has shifted. That's the process and foundation of transformation. That's how new realities are created and co-created.

Why these shifts? How these shifts? That's less important than the fact that I am optimistic about OUR optimism.

Bottom line: The optimism will last to the extent that we are WILLING for things to be different. For ourselves to be different. Don't underestimate how challenging it is to be truly WILLING for things, and us, to be different !!!

It's the willingness that opens new possibilities. Their actualization is a downstream. It flows, when there is true willingness.

What do you think?

by Rev. Alia Zara Aurami-Sou, Ph.D.

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