Optimism is a revolutionary and spiritual choice

I am an optimist, happily so. I’ve been one my whole life, and expect to continue.

I feel fortunate and grateful that I tend to look on the sunny side, even when there’s nothing but clouds. If the glass looks empty, I have no doubt it’ll fill up again. This attitude has brought me many blessings and happy things, as well as more reasons to be optimistic.

Just because I choose optimism as my default setting, doesn’t mean I’m there all the time, not by a long shot. And it doesn’t mean I’m not afraid. 

Some days I wake up and find it necessary to sweep and sculpt myself back into a happier shape, bit by bit. Some days I don’t go there at all, but, optimistically, I know I will again tomorrow, or the next day. In other words, my optimism takes work, consciousness, and lots of faith and trust. It doesn’t just happen without my participation.

Optimism is a choice I am committed to making, daily.

Contrary to popular opinion (at least it’s popular among some pessimists, cynics, and others who are afraid to be optimistic), optimism doesn’t make you stupid. I’ve been called unrealistic and naive for my optimism, which doesn’t bother me in the least.

I am optimistic that those who can’t see a reason to view life as a series of opportunities, may one day wake up and see it differently.

In my view, those who proudly proclaim that they are being realistic instead of pessimistic or cynical, are unaware of their fears, which makes them think a negative outlook is the only realistic one. As proof that they are right, they point to the world and to the terrible events, outcomes, or hardships that occur daily, and ‘always have and always will’.

They ask the following questions: why should I be optimistic? Why should I let go of the fears? Why should I become conscious? Why must I have faith and trust? Show me the evidence, prove it to me.

“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 Colbert

It seems like it takes a lot of energy and time to remain pessimistic or cynical. Much of it looks like unconsciousness on the part of the one proclaiming that he or she is only being realistic.

When you match to a negative outcome or expectation, you’re actually helping that outcome become reality. There’s also the bigger truth, which is that we don’t have control over the outcome. None of us, ever. We do have an effect on the outcome, and the outcome changes as we do. #whyIdon’tpredictthefuture

I know, if you expect the worst, you can be pleasantly surprised when it doesn’t materialize.

Pessimism and optimism and cynicism are all spiritual vibrations, which become emotional vibrations. An energy held in the spirit, the mind, and the body, certainly has an effect on the outcome. If you expect the worst in any situation, you will set your whole being in that direction.

Cynicism makes us unwell, spiritually bereft, lost. Matching to the darkest outcome available and believing it’s the only one possible, gets us all exactly nowhere. If you think you’re quietly cynical, guess again. Your negative vibration can be felt by all you come into contact with, whether they know you or not.

“There is nothing so pitiful as a young cynic because he has gone from knowing nothing to believing nothing.” -Maya Angelou

In my view, every conscious honest attempt to create a new bright vision, to see the world and yourself through newly awakened eyes, a heart freshly opened to experience all the joys and beauty available to you, unafraid (or at least unstopped) by the pain you’ll surely run into along the way – this is the spirit of being optimistic.

Contrary to what many self proclaimed realists claim, some of them smugly and knowingly, optimism isn’t an unrealistic or naive choice. Given the choice between a happy outlook, with possibilities for even better outcomes ahead, to an always painful negative expectation, I say it’s healthy to go for the optimistic.

Meanwhile, do your work, show up daily, deal with the day to day things you know you have to take care of, let go, forgive, and love as much as you can. Take responsibility for yourself, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and mentally.

Your spiritual vision makes a new reality possible.

Use it, and keep it real by taking direct action. Choose happiness and a positive outlook. We change the world when we change our outlook about how possible it is to change ourselves, to live differently, to effect change, to be the effect, not at the effect.

“We all start out knowing magic. We are born with whirlwinds, forest fires, and comets inside us.” –Robert McCammon

©Kris Cahill
‘Rise and Shine’ ©Wallyir on Morguefile