What is it to be optimistic?

What is optimism?

The most basic definition defines it as: "The tendency to see and judge things in their most positive or most favorable aspect."
It is also found as "doctrine and disposition that awaits the best and most positive of everything that is experienced."

In general, optimism is linked to hope and a positive expectation about the future or the development of events.

All people have the potential for optimism. Young children, if they are emotionally and psychologically well, are often essentially optimistic. They are easily excited and trust the environment. That attitude of innocence and joy around the simplest circumstances is a trait that optimistic adults maintain.

Optimism is associated with naivety. And in many societies, this is considered a problem. Being naive becomes an easy target for the bad moves of others. What is valued is skepticism, being cautious and anticipating the facts, always evaluating the negative possibilities first.

This tendency to distrust is often celebrated in many contexts. The "alive" in the Argentine culture, is the one who is not fooled, and to be in that position you have to get involved and distrust.

Simultaneously optimism is often seen as a sign of triumph. Happy and positive people are usually valued.

As we discussed in the previous article, many times sadness or pessimism are rejected aspects that are tried to be kept hidden, so as not to attract one's own anguish. Therefore, the most optimistic people are usually surrounded by friends. It is easy to have them around because they spread their positivity.

However, the dark side of optimism is denial, idealization, or lack of reality. This happens if it is a trait that is installed defensively, as a way to avoid bonding with the darker or more complex parts.
In these cases, the person develops excessive optimism. He filters what happens to him with a nuance that prevents him from observing or recognizing aspects of reality that are fundamental for becoming aware.

In these cases, optimism becomes a shutter, which prevents connecting with oneself and with reality.

If we return to the first definition, we observe that optimism implies a tendency to choose the most favorable in what happens. In this, it is implicit that the complete situation is evaluated and from there it is preferred to weigh the positive aspects. This is very important because it accounts for a choice at stake. All the elements are observed and even so, its positive and hopeful potential is extracted from each situation.

Optimism is a characteristic that we need to develop today because it allows us to a great extent to get out of crisis situations. At a collective level, hope and the projection of a possible future are essential for the social and personal reconstruction that we are undergoing in recent times.

Why some people develop it more easily has multiple intervening factors, among which personal history is a very important one.

The optimism that is not defensive and that does not imply denial but hope deserves to be revalued and put into action.

 

Thank You