How Do You Become an Optimist?

[Oblimo]

It is my deepest wish that, when we die, we all (from the unshakable zealot to the moral nihilist) find ourselves pleasantly surprised.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

The thing is, I WANT to be an optimist.

I'm just not. I think this, for me, ventures into the realm EL talked about, about spirit, having a faith in something greater... even if it's just Ami's idea of "life." Something.

I want to be an optimist, but I don't know if I ever will be. And damn, it's hard to live around optimists when you're a pessimist. Or maybe "skeptic" would be a better term? I dunno...

Optimists make me want to punch them... or be like them... but I still feel out-of-the-loop in the midst...

and don't ask, I don't know, how someone can be around new life constantly, from newborn babies to the tender spouting of new plants, and not be an optimist. I just don't know.

 

[rgraham666]

"Pessimists are most often right. But optimists have the most fun. So it's best to be an optimist by temperament and a pessimist by policy." Robert A. Heinlein

I'm still working on the optimist part myself.

 

[Sara Crewe]

I have five balls - that's not the optimistic bit

I try to keep four of them in the air at any one time, but I cheat.

Three I can't drop, my wife, my family, my writing.

That leaves two. One of those I've super-glued to the ceiling - ambition.

The other one is always in my pocket. Sometimes, it's a crystal ball, other times it's one of those squeezy frustration balls. Most of the time, it's there to remind me how lucky I am to have the other four.

That's the most intelligent thing I have heard in...well, forever.

Smart man with a lucky family.

 

[Guest]

"Pessimists are most often right. But optimists have the most fun. So it's best to be an optimist by temperament and a pessimist by policy." Robert A. Heinlein

I'm still working on the optimist part myself.

*smile* *kiss*

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Something that gets me through my trials is the conviction that my situation serves some greater good or is part of a grand design. And sometimes I simply step in dog shit.

 

[Guest]

...........

 

[amicus]

The thing is, I WANT to be an optimist.

I'm just not. I think this, for me, ventures into the realm EL talked about, about spirit, having a faith in something greater... even if it's just Ami's idea of "life." Something.

I want to be an optimist, but I don't know if I ever will be. And damn, it's hard to live around optimists when you're a pessimist. Or maybe "skeptic" would be a better term? I dunno...

Optimists make me want to punch them... or be like them... but I still feel out-of-the-loop in the midst...

and don't ask, I don't know, how someone can be around new life constantly, from newborn babies to the tender spouting of new plants, and not be an optimist. I just don't know.

~~~

Dear, dear Selena, et al...."just Ami's idea of "life:" Dispenses with a concept that deserves more consideration I would suggest.

The actual way the human mind works can roughly be described as a method of observing, classifying and storing information gained by dealing with that which exists and can be comprehended.

The mind naturally does such things, as an infant learns that a mouth on a nipple is a 'good' thing and time after time that observation is confirmed, it solidifies to an abstract concept in the mind and becomes a building block among other building blocks on the way to acquiring a consistent, rational and logical view of existence, i.e. 'reality'.

The epistemology of the human mind is both simple and complex at the same time, but the basic understanding is quite easy: an old computer term 'gigo' "garbage in, garbage out" in other words accurate consistent information provided by sensory percention and the natural function of the mind will provide a firm foundation for knowledge while inaccurant, inconsistent, contradictory information will bring about confusion and doubt, thus, 'pessimism', as opposed to optimism. (That 'runon' sentence will drive the editor in Selena crazy!"

I am going to resume my usual prickly demeanor here and offer a few hard and cruel comparisons to shed light on why 'pessimism' is so rampant among intellectuals.

Religion is the major culprit in not just pessimism, but mental illness, the inability to deal with reality.

With early man, who sought answers beyond his rational understanding, the supernatural, the world of the Gods, offered pacifying solutions to imponderables, such as from whence we came and goeth.

One can accept that about early man; one cannot accept that about modern man as we know there is no God, no life in the hereafter, no demons, no dragons, no ghosts, none of the fantasy and fiction what before gave a least a hold on existence as observed by early man.

There has, throughout history, been an ebb and flow of pessimism, as mankind shrugged off the burden of faith and struggled to replace belief with knowledge. Through the Nihilists and the Existentialists, the Kantians and the Hegelians, it has been a torturous journey towards the light.

Faith and belief also carried over into the less formal realm of socialization and ethical and moral behavior, presupposing that these areas of human endeavor were subjective and relativistic and not tied to reality.

Big mistake.

There are many entire volumes written on this, far be it from me to condense it to a 'recipe' level for easy comprehension; but you know me, gotta give it a shot!

Just as many religions taught that to reach fulfillment, man must be 'reborn', cast off his evil and base nature and aspire to Godlike behavior.

So, too, have modern thinkers assaulted human nature as base and evil, something to be overcome and transcended. The difference is that as the deists demanded submission to a higher power, the modern believers demand you sacrifice your individual existence to the collective.

They insist you view man and human nature, as intruders in a peaceful world. That you view the natural inclination for self survival and self interest as evil aspects of man, to be overcome and buried in the past.

In other words, modern thinkers detest the basic nature of man as an individual entity focused on his own survival and pleasure.

It is logical, in a perverted way, to be pessimistic about the future of mankind if you view human existence as a blight on the earth. If you see our magnificent achievements as rape and pillage of a natural pristine environment.

There is no doubt in my mind that the high incidence of narcotic escape from reality falls mainly to the pessimist intellectuals who decry the destitute and mundane existence of man in the modern world.

The mental wards are full of disappointed and dismissed dreamers who are angry beyond reason at the failure of their Utopian dreams and retreat into the abyss of insanity.

Selena, my friend, and anyone else who questions the pessimist within, I feel obligated to state that changing that state of mind is not akin to a light switch on the wall that you can flip from pessimist to optimist.

It don't woik dat way, kids.

You have to go all the way back to the baby at the breast and question where the milk went sour.

Good luck.

the always amiable amicus...
(thas a good post, I may edit that and post it somewhere, maybe even publish it in my memoirs....grins, ah the cheek of that fellow!)

 

[Weird Harold]

Can a pessimist become an optimist?

Apparently anyone who fills out the forms and pays their dues can become an Optimist: http://www.optimist.org/

 

[Guest]

Daily practice and deciding to.

Every fricken day, if one has to.

 

[Guest]

~~~

Dear, dear Selena, et al...."just Ami's idea of "life:" Dispenses with a concept that deserves more consideration I would suggest.

The actual way the human mind works can roughly be described as a method of observing, classifying and storing information gained by dealing with that which exists and can be comprehended.

The mind naturally does such things, as an infant learns that a mouth on a nipple is a 'good' thing and time after time that observation is confirmed, it solidifies to an abstract concept in the mind and becomes a building block among other building blocks on the way to acquiring a consistent, rational and logical view of existence, i.e. 'reality'.

The epistemology of the human mind is both simple and complex at the same time, but the basic understanding is quite easy: an old computer term 'gigo' "garbage in, garbage out" in other words accurate consistent information provided by sensory percention and the natural function of the mind will provide a firm foundation for knowledge while inaccurant, inconsistent, contradictory information will bring about confusion and doubt, thus, 'pessimism', as opposed to optimism. (That 'runon' sentence will drive the editor in Selena crazy!"

I am going to resume my usual prickly demeanor here and offer a few hard and cruel comparisons to shed light on why 'pessimism' is so rampant among intellectuals.

Religion is the major culprit in not just pessimism, but mental illness, the inability to deal with reality.

With early man, who sought answers beyond his rational understanding, the supernatural, the world of the Gods, offered pacifying solutions to imponderables, such as from whence we came and goeth.

One can accept that about early man; one cannot accept that about modern man as we know there is no God, no life in the hereafter, no demons, no dragons, no ghosts, none of the fantasy and fiction what before gave a least a hold on existence as observed by early man.

There has, throughout history, been an ebb and flow of pessimism, as mankind shrugged off the burden of faith and struggled to replace belief with knowledge. Through the Nihilists and the Existentialists, the Kantians and the Hegelians, it has been a torturous journey towards the light.

Faith and belief also carried over into the less formal realm of socialization and ethical and moral behavior, presupposing that these areas of human endeavor were subjective and relativistic and not tied to reality.

Big mistake.

There are many entire volumes written on this, far be it from me to condense it to a 'recipe' level for easy comprehension; but you know me, gotta give it a shot!

Just as many religions taught that to reach fulfillment, man must be 'reborn', cast off his evil and base nature and aspire to Godlike behavior.

So, too, have modern thinkers assaulted human nature as base and evil, something to be overcome and transcended. The difference is that as the deists demanded submission to a higher power, the modern believers demand you sacrifice your individual existence to the collective.

They insist you view man and human nature, as intruders in a peaceful world. That you view the natural inclination for self survival and self interest as evil aspects of man, to be overcome and buried in the past.

In other words, modern thinkers detest the basic nature of man as an individual entity focused on his own survival and pleasure.

It is logical, in a perverted way, to be pessimistic about the future of mankind if you view human existence as a blight on the earth. If you see our magnificent achievements as rape and pillage of a natural pristine environment.

There is no doubt in my mind that the high incidence of narcotic escape from reality falls mainly to the pessimist intellectuals who decry the destitute and mundane existence of man in the modern world.

The mental wards are full of disappointed and dismissed dreamers who are angry beyond reason at the failure of their Utopian dreams and retreat into the abyss of insanity.

Selena, my friend, and anyone else who questions the pessimist within, I feel obligated to state that changing that state of mind is not akin to a light switch on the wall that you can flip from pessimist to optimist.

It don't woik dat way, kids.

You have to go all the way back to the baby at the breast and question where the milk went sour.

Good luck.

the always amiable amicus...
(thas a good post, I may edit that and post it somewhere, maybe even publish it in my memoirs....grins, ah the cheek of that fellow!)

I'd like to be put on the list for a signed copy, please.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

(That 'runon' sentence will drive the editor in Selena crazy!")

I'm dealing with enough run-ons thankyouverymuch!

With early man, who sought answers beyond his rational understanding, the supernatural, the world of the Gods, offered pacifying solutions to imponderables, such as from whence we came and goeth.

Oh, it offers so much more than that. You so underestimate the value of the divine... it's actually an intrinsic part of the human psyche. It can't (and won't) be explained away by rational thought. No matter how much talking you do.

There has, throughout history, been an ebb and flow of pessimism, as mankind shrugged off the burden of faith and struggled to replace belief with knowledge. Through the Nihilists and the Existentialists, the Kantians and the Hegelians, it has been a torturous journey towards the light.

Ah there's the rub. Perhaps BACK towards the light is more appropriate, there...

Faith and belief also carried over into the less formal realm of socialization and ethical and moral behavior, presupposing that these areas of human endeavor were subjective and relativistic and not tied to reality.

Big mistake.

I can agree with you there 100%.

There is no doubt in my mind that the high incidence of narcotic escape from reality falls mainly to the pessimist intellectuals who decry the destitute and mundane existence of man in the modern world.

Not just intellectuals. But there is an element of truth in this. There is a gap between what we are now, as humans, and what we can become. That's a gap we all seem to be trying to either fill with something (or someone) else... or working hard to forget. I think the optimist sees that gap and seeks to build a bridge. A pessimist sees it... and just doesn't know how to get across.

Selena, my friend, and anyone else who questions the pessimist within, I feel obligated to state that changing that state of mind is not akin to a light switch on the wall that you can flip from pessimist to optimist.

I long for switches, quick-fixes, easy ways out. Always. And I also know they don't exist. Maybe that says a bit about my often-pessimistic outlook?

You have to go all the way back to the baby at the breast and question where the milk went sour

.

No more couches, please! Thanks anyway!

(thas a good post, I may edit that and post it somewhere, maybe even publish it in my memoirs....grins, ah the cheek of that fellow!)

Edit, edit, edit!

 

[amicus]

Thank you Babygrrl and Selena....Damn! a post of mine actually understood? Inform the media!

I agree, Selena, that faith is more valuable than I posit. With the Caveat however that it is mainly useful to those with an Intelligence Quotient below the average Stanford-Binet of about 105.

I give the benefit of the doubt to those up to about the 125 level, but those above and beyond that, there is no excuse at all to refuse to use their minds.

"Never give an inch" from a film "Sometimes a Great Notion", well....smiles...I gave almost an inch there, Selena, just for you.

(buttering you up, of course)

smiles...

Ami...

 

[only_more_so]

I'd try to become an optimist if I thought it would do any good.

You're a woman after my own heart (at least sometimes). I was going to say, "I want to be an optimist, but I just don't think it'll work out."

But more to the topic at hand...

I think people have been mislead for decades about the glass half full garbage. A real optimist would see the glass and assume it is being filled, a pessimist would see the glass and think it is being emptied. So it isn't the current state, but the expected change in state that's important. The importance of expectations is not what eventually happens, but whether you enjoy the moment you're in.

The easiest place to start becoming an optimist is not to expect great things in the future, but to not expect bad things. Say to yourself, I'm not going to worry about what might be; If it happens, I'll deal with it when it happens. This doesn't mean that you forget your umbrella, but don't invest any emotion in a future event. Why borrow pain from the future when you don't need to?

I have seen a correlation between intelligence and optimism/pessimism, but it is a bit complicated. I think people of average intelligence are overall pretty happy with life. They have their worries, but they get by. People with above average intelligence, see clearly all the problems in the world, and with the people around them, and are miserable. People who are still smarter see not just the challenges and problems in the world, but solutions. Slightly smarter see the bigger problems, smarter still see the bigger solutions, etc.

It also works on the low side of average. At a certain point a person realizes they are stupid and see the problem, making them sad. Below a certain point, the person doesn't really see the problem, they just enjoy the moment as it is.

Finally, if you want to change your outlook, change your mood. Optimism doesn't just cause happiness, it is caused by happiness. Next time you are feeling pessimistic, think of something happy, or tell yourself your favorite joke.

And remember, if you think you'll fail, you're right. So don't.

 

[AvoidingRealWork]

Here's how you become an Optimist:

http://www.optimist.org/default.cfm?content=Vistors/vis10.htm

 

[elsol]

Does human nature ever really change?

Can a person's nature change?

Yes... they can be broken

 

[damppanties]

I'm not really an optimist, but this is how I deal with life. I ask myself what's the absolute worst thing that can happen (when faced with a problem). And most of the times, it's not so bad that I can't deal with it or trust myself enough to get through the bad times. I believe in my resilience. No, that doesn't make me Ms. Happy Sunshine all the time, I realize that, but the point is, optimism is not happiness.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Can a person's nature change?

Yes... they can be broken

ouch.

yeah.

That's it exactly, isn't it?

 

[lesbiaphrodite]

I know how to become an optimist. I'm just not sure I know how to remain one.

 

[rgraham666]

ouch.

yeah.

That's it exactly, isn't it?

Happened to me once. Luckily I recovered.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Happened to me once. Luckily I recovered.

who glued you back together?

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Thank you Babygrrl and Selena....Damn! a post of mine actually understood? Inform the media!

I agree, Selena, that faith is more valuable than I posit. With the Caveat however that it is mainly useful to those with an Intelligence Quotient below the average Stanford-Binet of about 105.

I give the benefit of the doubt to those up to about the 125 level, but those above and beyond that, there is no excuse at all to refuse to use their minds.

"Never give an inch" from a film "Sometimes a Great Notion", well....smiles...I gave almost an inch there, Selena, just for you.

(buttering you up, of course)

smiles...
Ami...

You're a good man, Ami, but as a certified 136 I'm disregarding that last snipe of yours as not to be taken any more seriously than a case of dyspepsia. I know too many theologians much smarter than I am to take you seriously in this regard. Of course, that's one reason I left the hall of academia, the supercilious approach to other people's beliefs.

 

[elsol]

ouch.

yeah.

That's it exactly, isn't it?

I've always counted on the cruelty of friends. :caning:

 

[ishtat]

The idea that we need to categorise ourselves and our behavior is I think fundamentally flawed. All of us are at times both pessimist or optimist.

I from time to time have suffered from clinical depression. It's a real pain at the time but it just is . It doesn't define me or my view of the world. It doesn't do the slightest good to be so self absorbed about one's life as it detracts so much from the pleasure of living it.

 

[impressive]

Yes... they can be broken

If this is true, then so is the converse. Believing otherwise is ... pessimistic.