Optimism is more than a state of mind; it’s a state of mind with purpose. It has nothing to do with the “glass half full, glass half empty” concept. That’s for people who aren’t very thirsty. It has nothing to do with “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps” nor how we react to everything going on around us. If it did then it would admit that we are a product of our circumstances and diminish our capacity to dream.
Optimism does not hold with the theory that “we are one, plus our circumstances” (as someone once said), nor that we are a product of our environment. In point of fact, optimism’s only relationship to our environment is by reference – optimism is positive when compared to the negatives in our perceived world.
No, optimism comes from our eternal existence, our eternal identity. Who we are, not where we are; (for we are all where we are supposed to be). It is a product of that “power… beyond measure” that Marianne Williamson describes. That “power” is that Spirit in all of us that transcends space and time; and creates that which we call ‘our Self’.
We are all ‘eternal optimists’.
Enjoy the day, Joel
Copyright 2009 Joel A White
Posts
I really am not a huge fan of optimism. Optimism leads to atheism, because if we think everything is going to be great, then there is technically no need for God. wrong idea.
ReplyDeleteMany religions hold the concept of 'free will' as a demonstration of choice; choice to choose to accept and to follow God (as each of us defines Him).
ReplyDeleteFree will is inherently dualistic. We can choose yea or nay.
I would much rather go through this existence choosing the optimistic approach; and, if that optimism leads us to believe, follow and trust in a God, more so, the better.
If not, well as G.K.Chesterton said, " If there were no God, there would be no atheists."