Cynic or Optimist – Which Are We Today?

 

 

“Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the farthest thing from it. Because cynics don’t learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blindness, a rejection of the world because we are afraid it will hurt us or disappoint us.”

– Stephen Cobert

Being able to see good in things, even hard things, is attractive, is a way to soften the blow of hard things, and reduces anxiety about the world we live in.  There are plenty of reasons not to feel optimistic and media blares at us that we are not safe here any more.  We have to find ways to counteract the negativity.

Realistically, there will be barriers and obstacles to deal with.  To be blindly optimistic will lead to simply “playing it safe” with no actual rewards.  Cynicism is an avoidance tool and is draining, and creates drama and negativity so that darkness becomes our old friend instead of the lightness of feeling that we can change the way we think and do, and how we react to things in life that ARE difficult. 

All we can do is try.  We can really listen to what that inner voice is saying to us and realise it is not in our best interest to listen to it.  There has to be many points of view about all things.  There is both negative and positive and your choice makes the difference between you surviving, overcoming and thriving or sinking into despair and a sense of chosen powerlessness. 

We all have those people around us that are happy happy joy joy all the time and we can just tell they are not being authentic about their feelings and expressions.   Don’t think you need to be like them.  You want balance. 

It is so easy to look back at our past and see and remember our failures and things we think we did wrong.  How about re-looking.  Look back at your past, on a timeline, from earliest memories and write down your successes (body, mind heart and soul).  Remember hard.  Remember how the good things actually felt.

Once you have done that, remember to stay present.  Everything that can go wrong, will go wrong, betimes.  Try living in the moment so you do not allow for futuristic stress or anxiety creep in.  Make that a habit. 

Remember that all this sounds wonderful, but it is work.  Breaking a habit starts with breaking it the first time.  Blessed Be!

©Carol Desjarlais 7.17.22

 

 

Pop Surrealism, was labelled after the artists were already creating the art.  As is typical, the style had to be labeled something, and so the term Pop Surrealism came to be a style. Surrealism began as an underground kind of art that was involved with underground comix, punk music, graffiti, and street cultures.