CNN Poll--Optimistic About 2010?

Optimistic about 2010? That was the latest CNN poll that just popped up for me to participate in. At first I hesitated on whether I should participate in such an asinine thing. What difference does it make if I’m optimistic or not? Will that change anything that happens during the year? What happens, will happen … good, bad, and otherwise will happen whether I am optimistic or not. Is this an optimistic viewpoint? It’s not optimistic or pessimistic … it is simply true.

What is also absolutely true is that my outlook on tomorrow, next week, next month, and the next year will chart my course and will influence what happens in my life. You and I, both experience the same tragic event—let’s say the death of a partner or spouse. I choose to focus on how my partner added to my life, made me more kind, caring and sensitive to t he needs of others …. Or I could choose the path of loss, bitterness, and anger over something about which I have no control. The latter choice will lead to unproductive decisions and choices. The former choice (I mean choice and not attitude) will lead me to make decisions that benefit myself and others. My positive impact on others will influence in a positive way how I am perceived and what opportunities and interactions come my direction as a result.

This is not what CNN had in mind when they asked if I was optimistic about 2010. They are referring to our world and to our country. I will always be optimisitic … not because I think wonderful and great things will always happen or only happen. It is how I respond to events that makes me an optimist. There will be some very good things that happen during 2010 and some pretty crappy things that happen as well—that’s just the way that life works. What makes me an optimist is the opportunities that I find in the crappy things that happen. If lose my job, will I take this opportunity to learn a new skill; when my partner is diagnosed with incurable cancer, will I take this opportunity to escort him gracefully to the other side?; when I unexpectedly encounter conflict on my job, I will examine my contributing actions and motives and I will be thankful that I have a job.

Optimism is a choice …. it is not a belief that what will happen in the future will be weighted toward good or weighted toward bad. Good and bad will happen, that is the given . . . the constant in life. What makes us optimistic is how we respond to those “bad” things. I choose to focus on the good that can and will come from the bad that happens.