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Is Optimism Inappropriate Now?
Optimism is never misplaced or inappropriate. But it needs to be in the context of reality.
Optimism in the world today seems like a Pollyanna, rose-colored glasses, unrealistic attitude.
In the United States, we are still in the middle of an out-of-control pandemic; an utterly disheartening and frustrating election; a government that cares way more about the money than the people; out-of-control, militarized police forces murdering indiscriminately — and getting away with it; a President obsessed with dictators and hoping to become one himself; and a whole host of other insanity.
It feels very doom-and-gloom. Further, it feels a lot like optimism in the face of it is ridiculous.
Except that it’s not.
There are three facts to take into consideration as to why optimism is not ever inappropriate.
1. We live in a fear-based society
One of the reasons we’re all hyper-aware of the above issues is because this is a fear-based society in which we live. Fox News is all about hyping the fears of their viewers and making them MORE afraid. To a different and less-intentional degree, the rest of the media also hypes fear — because fear sells.
