What if optimism was a religion? Would it gain momentum fast? Would it have a large following? Being an optimist, I hope that it would. Religions possess some traits of optimism, but there is so much other stuff involved. Perhaps optimism is already a religion, just an unofficial, unspoken one. Perhaps the managing editor of this paper, John Walton, is an optimist. He certainly seemed like it the other day when I talked to him. So maybe I’m on to something. This article will explain the makeup of optimism and why the “O” in optimism one day should be capitalized.
The definition for optimism in Webster’s dictionary is “The belief that good will prevail.” When times are bad and things look dim optimism is most necessary. If there is no optimism there is no struggle against the negative and terrible. In a fight, in most cases, one will lose if he or she doesn’t contend. One may lose even if they labor, but at least there was effort involved. In these difficult economic times, a lot of people, for good reason, are feeling defeated. Many jobs and homes have been lost, affecting ties and relationships. But at the end of the day, where does depression take a person? Nowhere. Optimism is alive, active, and daring. It moves, creates, attempts, and makes things happen that otherwise would not happen because one did not give him or herself a chance. In other words, optimism increases opportunity.
As a worldview, optimism is the way to go. No matter how bad the current state of a person is, if they are optimistic they do not get mentally and emotionally stuck like a negative person would. There is plenty of evidence of optimism being effective. Many leaders, inventors, and celebrities will back me. Take Benjamin Franklin, the inventor and politician, who said “Lost time is never found again.” Optimism is time-efficient. Believing good will prevail keeps one energized and useful, going that extra mile, gaining that tough territory. To be successful, optimism must thrive. Optimism is vision and action balled in a glorious knot. One must push despite obstacles.
Think about it, if people only made decisions based on how things are looking today, none of the great stories, the triumph over tragedy sagas, we take for granted would be around. Only the people who are doing well already would be successful. More power to them, but there is nothing special about that. Not enough can be said about optimism and the lives that become victorious because of it. However, no word can grasp how it feels to overcome. It is responsible for the success of all underdogs.. Perhaps it is best not as a religion, but as it is. That hovering, powerful spirit that can go backwards, forwards, lateral, or wherever it needs to go. For centuries it has been a fierce competitor, battling the pessimist even though they need each other. Optimism is a word for winners. A “religion” for winners.