Cynicism
Since when did we get so cynical?
Cynics call themselves realists, and optimists call these people pessimists.
I was never, ever a cynic. A optimist, bordering on unrealistic maybe, but never ever a cynic.
Recently, however, i am not so sure.
There is a certain joy to feeling like it really is going to work out, and there is a certain stability in accepting that all good things come to an end. The challenge is the balance between the two. Some people live blissfully at the positive end of the scale, in complete shock when things don't work out as promised, but ready to believe the same people, things and situations with the same ardent fervor. We call this category naive.
Then there is the other end of the spectrum which thrives on the belief that all good things always have a evil underbelly. The very goodness of something, shows its short termness or darkness. These are the people we call hard cynics. And then the optimists, pessimists, soft cynics, indifferent people fill the space.
On this scale, i was definitely a 3 or 4 - an optimist. Unknowingly, i have slid (up or down) to a 6 or a 7. Pessimism bordering on cynicism. And it does not make me feel very good about myself.
Not being able to completely believe in someone or something good. Always second guessing someone's good intentions, pulling down people with sharp words when i think them naive.
But this very realization has set me free.
I now know i need to begin the journey towards Optimism. And contrary to the arduous, depressing uphill journey that took me to pessimism, this path towards optimism looks so easy, even pretty.
All i have to do is believe. Believe in the goodness of people, believe in the little joys of life knowing they will last only so much, believe in the universe to send me good vibes, and believe in myself to face the bad times.
So much easier, so liberating than constantly being a cynic. Given, i will sometimes feel the world being slipped away from under my feet because i wasn't cautious. But what will that be compared to the joy of living everyday in utter happiness?
Cynics call themselves realists, and optimists call these people pessimists.
I was never, ever a cynic. A optimist, bordering on unrealistic maybe, but never ever a cynic.
Recently, however, i am not so sure.
There is a certain joy to feeling like it really is going to work out, and there is a certain stability in accepting that all good things come to an end. The challenge is the balance between the two. Some people live blissfully at the positive end of the scale, in complete shock when things don't work out as promised, but ready to believe the same people, things and situations with the same ardent fervor. We call this category naive.
Then there is the other end of the spectrum which thrives on the belief that all good things always have a evil underbelly. The very goodness of something, shows its short termness or darkness. These are the people we call hard cynics. And then the optimists, pessimists, soft cynics, indifferent people fill the space.
On this scale, i was definitely a 3 or 4 - an optimist. Unknowingly, i have slid (up or down) to a 6 or a 7. Pessimism bordering on cynicism. And it does not make me feel very good about myself.
Not being able to completely believe in someone or something good. Always second guessing someone's good intentions, pulling down people with sharp words when i think them naive.
But this very realization has set me free.
I now know i need to begin the journey towards Optimism. And contrary to the arduous, depressing uphill journey that took me to pessimism, this path towards optimism looks so easy, even pretty.
All i have to do is believe. Believe in the goodness of people, believe in the little joys of life knowing they will last only so much, believe in the universe to send me good vibes, and believe in myself to face the bad times.
So much easier, so liberating than constantly being a cynic. Given, i will sometimes feel the world being slipped away from under my feet because i wasn't cautious. But what will that be compared to the joy of living everyday in utter happiness?
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