Optimism and Pessimism (1) - by Cyan Banister

When life is difficult, it is often challenging to be optimistic. However, I believe optimism is the key to escaping most hardships. Often, people turn to pessimism as a form of protection and it becomes an engrained habit. It is far easier to believe a narrative that is negative than one in which you can picture yourself or the world around you with boundless positivity. I’m starting this book here, because I feel that if you read nothing else, this is the most important takeaway and gift I hope to give you. One reason people are afraid of being optimistic, is they are afraid of being wrong. If they allow themselves to feel the joy of looking ahead, finding the good in something or believing in what seems impossible they are seen as dreamers, “do nothings”, idle, or a myriad of other phrases that you’ve no doubt heard. We all know the person that tells you that something isn’t possible. The problem isn’t what they are saying, it is that we believe them. People say these things because

When life is difficult, it is often challenging to be optimistic. However, I believe optimism is the key to escaping most hardships. Often, people turn to pessimism as a form of protection and it becomes an engrained habit. It is far easier to believe a narrative that is negative than one in which you can picture yourself or the world around you with boundless positivity. I’m starting this book here, because I feel that if you read nothing else, this is the most important takeaway and gift I hope to give you. One reason people are afraid of being optimistic, is they are afraid of being wrong.