During work, I thought of optimism. I thought of it because I knew I had been a terrible pessimist in the past which also led me to my downfall. It is only natural for one who had gone through a many bad incidents to be a pessimist, but ultimately what makes one happy, I believe, is optimism; the belief that better things have yet to come.
Yet how does one remain optimistic when all one has seen is tragedy played out in front of one’s eyes? Having read Voltaire’s Candide, it made me realize that tragedy is inevitable. By embracing the needlessness of bloodshed and tears and the suffering of humanity, one’s awareness will then be raised to a level where one will dispel the types of rigid thinking and abuses of power that serve to aggravate human misery. Nonetheless, optimism serves as a dangerous “temptation” that far from making life more pleasant, it tends to lead us to confusion, despair and resignation. It snuffs out that glimmer of hope we had carried before.
I’ve learnt to remain optimistic over the past few months only because it makes me happy. Ironically speaking, I’m an optimistic pessimist (if there ever is such a term). Wait, or is it the other way round? Hmm. I don’t deny I have my terribly cynical side of me, but I don’t let that bit eat my soul up till the extent where no expectations or hope remain in me. I guess the only real reason I’m optimistic compared to some other people is because by remaining so, it makes me happier for the day. Temporal as it may seem, I derive a certain sense of fulfillment from channeling my negative energy to a more positive one. Mental wise, I think I’m progressing. Mood wise, I think I’m sliding.
2 comments:
I find Voltaire’s satire terribly amusing. Pushing the limits of the absurd, his “pessimistic” conclusions of the world ironically allude to a general sense of optimism that pervades the book.
Bad, bad things must happen so good for others can be achieved – depending on how one looks at it, it does sound optimistic doesn’t it.
Tragedy often deals with the larger scheme of things, though not necessarily having to end in tragedy. Taking the big picture in, humanity is resilient, how many tragedies have we as a civilisation (and of course our mini-tragedies as individuals) overcome?
History is chock-full of tragedies, where lessons are learnt and hopefully not repeated.
It’s good thing, not a bad one.
Being optimistic I believe doesn’t make snuff hope out nor does it lead to confusion and despair. That is pessimism rearing its ugly head, fiddling, twisting and warping one’s thoughts.
Simple reduction:
Optimism = hope for happiness, good, success, etc – if achieved, ability to enjoy the fruits of one’s labour without suspicion or paranoia
Pessimism = concrete belief that nothing will work out, and if any semblance of good comes along, instinctively, one will push it away in a subconscious persuasion that such actions are necessary to prevent further disappointment.
Optimistic pessimist?
Perhaps, someone that hopes for good, yet still is trying to find that faith to believe that good things can happen, yet still indulging in actions to prevent full enjoyment of the “good” in order to protect oneself from hurt.
That's one long comment you got there. Hahaha. Interesting though.
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