Have you ever felt that sinking feeling when surreptitiously expected the best in a situation only to actually see the worst come of it? You optimistically foresaw a better result, but it didn’t come about, and you were disappointed, in fact, shattered. Or, what about the opposite situation; you thought nothing of the possibility of a particular outcome only to be incredibly surprised and awestruck by how it turned out?
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Optimism and pessimism: Two such polar attitudes—at their extremes, both as false as the other. As Rudyard Kipling quite rightly pointed out in his poem, “If”… “If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster, And treat those two impostors just the same,” ‘then, my son, you’ll be a man.’
Optimism and pessimism: Two such polar attitudes—at their extremes, both as false as the other. As Rudyard Kipling quite rightly pointed out in his poem, “If”… “If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster, And treat those two impostors just the same,” ‘then, my son, you’ll be a man.’
S
It seems that our attitude towards optimism and pessimism is crucial to the moulding of our characters. We know implicitly that to be optimistic is better, but somehow we find it hard to expect more than we ‘deserve,’ or we don’t want to get our hopes up, and have them dashed on the rocks of life. I mean, how many times has this happened in your life? In mine, plenty!
It seems that our attitude towards optimism and pessimism is crucial to the moulding of our characters. We know implicitly that to be optimistic is better, but somehow we find it hard to expect more than we ‘deserve,’ or we don’t want to get our hopes up, and have them dashed on the rocks of life. I mean, how many times has this happened in your life? In mine, plenty!
S
How do we live our lives like this? Positive, negative. The glass is half full, no it is half empty. Is there a time for both? The writer of Ecclesiastes[1] would have us think so… “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance…”
How do we live our lives like this? Positive, negative. The glass is half full, no it is half empty. Is there a time for both? The writer of Ecclesiastes[1] would have us think so… “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance…”
S
Is there a time for optimism and a time for pessimism? Or is it a case of finding a better way, a way that fits most or more seasons of life—a more appropriate and balanced response to life, generally.
Is there a time for optimism and a time for pessimism? Or is it a case of finding a better way, a way that fits most or more seasons of life—a more appropriate and balanced response to life, generally.
S
For mine, I think one can’t go past being pessimistically optimistic. This is an attitude that fits most situations. Perhaps it’s an approach where neither positive or negative hold sway, but balance is available. It is circumspect, yet thankful. It can see the worst, yet hope for the best. It can’t be disappointed, but it can be pleasantly surprised. It’s thankful for ‘what is.’
For mine, I think one can’t go past being pessimistically optimistic. This is an attitude that fits most situations. Perhaps it’s an approach where neither positive or negative hold sway, but balance is available. It is circumspect, yet thankful. It can see the worst, yet hope for the best. It can’t be disappointed, but it can be pleasantly surprised. It’s thankful for ‘what is.’
S
I like to think of this as being able to see the worst, actually envisioning it, and importantly accepting it before it comes, yet being able to not lose hope of something more positive coming. This takes quite a bit of courage of course as you stand open to the torrent of emotion that comes with any of this, particularly when discussing it on the major life issue scale.
I like to think of this as being able to see the worst, actually envisioning it, and importantly accepting it before it comes, yet being able to not lose hope of something more positive coming. This takes quite a bit of courage of course as you stand open to the torrent of emotion that comes with any of this, particularly when discussing it on the major life issue scale.
s
I like to think it is the hopeful ‘good place’ of real utopia; the spiritual, mental and emotional place to be. It is calmly and humbly watchful and able to enjoy things for what they are. It is neither too happy nor too sad; it is the ideal of truth in response to life—a journey often cruel.
I like to think it is the hopeful ‘good place’ of real utopia; the spiritual, mental and emotional place to be. It is calmly and humbly watchful and able to enjoy things for what they are. It is neither too happy nor too sad; it is the ideal of truth in response to life—a journey often cruel.
s
Will you take the challenge and stand the rich reward of boldly expecting little but hoping for much? And, can you encourage others to enter it; this serene sense of head and heart connection?
Will you take the challenge and stand the rich reward of boldly expecting little but hoping for much? And, can you encourage others to enter it; this serene sense of head and heart connection?
S
© Steve J. Wickham, 2008. All rights reserved Worldwide.
© Steve J. Wickham, 2008. All rights reserved Worldwide.
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