Life needs optimism and, of course, unwavering hope to emerge relatively unscathed through its frequent lows and struggles and grow out stronger. Pessimism is not an option, as it tends to bring unhappiness and misery for the pessimist. Where hope and optimism sustain life, pessimism cripples and depresses. Pessimism breeds unhappiness.
Although realism may mean being more intelligent in the present, optimism proves to be much wiser and more practical in the end. Of course, in this context, optimism does not mean being reckless or blind to the obvious, it is being hopeful about the miraculous manifestation of a positive change till the end. After all, who does not know about the element of uncertainty that characterizes the life in general? Miracles do happen, so do believe in them. Unthinkable happens, so never lose hope.
Readers must note that optimism certainly does not mean ‘fatalism’ or something that may lull one to complacency and do nothing to proactively address the problems at hand that may potentially sink one into abyss if nothing is done in a timely manner to solve them.
Don’t some of us believe in life after death or the existence of a heaven after death, ready to receive us warmly and permanently accommodate the do-gooders amongst us in a heavenly paradise? Doesn’t such a belief represent the highest — and, perhaps, the most ridiculous — kind of optimism, considering no one has ever seen such a heaven and returned with evidence for us all to see? Of course, such optimism, howsoever absurd or foolish it may seem, causes no harm to anyone, so there is nothing wrong with believing in its existence and keeping happy. Who knows? No one can discount it unless one has seen it all or known it all!
After all, happiness is not subservient to an individual’s intelligence or wealth or education or power, it is just a state of one’s mind. The more we know, the more miserable we usually tend to become. Ignorance has long been known to be ‘bliss’ for the ignorant whereas philosophers have been known to be generally miserable.
Who does not know that death is the only certainty in our lives — which may happen to us any moment, any hour, any day — but does that deter us from living a day at a time, planning ahead for the future and hoping all will turn out to be fine for us in the end?
Hope and optimism carry us forward and, therefore, can be seen as sustaining life. On the contrary, doom and gloom, as a direct result of social strife and military confrontations reported from across the world, have the potential to trigger depressing pessimism and hopelessness in many of us, which none of us deserves. Happiness and freedom are our birthright.
Optimism rules. An optimist does suffer some disappointment but only after his / her optimism fails; however, a pessimist remains disappointed throughout, from the beginning till the end. Take your pick.”
…. Bill K Koul [29 Sept 22, Perth, Western Australia]
Thanks Bill, a welcome endorsement for those of us who are still optimists. But it is easy to become cynical with age: been there, done that; nothing is going to work. What do you say to cynics? Are they different from pessimists?
Thank you, Sharad. Hope and optimism carry us forward and, therefore, can be seen as sustaining life. Otherwise, doom and gloom, as a direct result of social strife and military confrontations reported from across the world, have the potential to trigger pessimism and hopelessness in many of us, which none of us deserves. Happiness and freedom are our birthright. Regards. Bill