The Delusion

-

    I was thinking about something I never thought I would question. 

    Earlier this week, I found myself staring out the window and wondering whether or not optimism was a delusion. I wasn't feeling down or anything of that nature. It was just something I was thinking about while I was at work. 

    Optimism -at its most extreme forms- feels delusional. It makes some people seem like absolutely nothing bad or "wrong" will happen to them, even if their current situation is disastrously unfortunate. Everything will eventually be sunshine and rainbows for them, with or without their contribution. To all of that, I stamp a big "X to doubt." Sure, things can get better, even without your direct contribution. But to go about life thinking you have no control over how you can contribute to things would be a lie. At the end of the day, you have to contribute to your own fulfillment and contentment, whether directly or indirectly. Life does not simply exist to make you happy without your contribution to it. Without contribution from you, I don't think life would care about you and would simply treat you as one of its more inert entities in the universe.

    With that in mind, I think it is equally delusional to be pessimistic in its extreme forms. This is where I tend to have problems with teenage mindsets, especially the ones who have gone through a lot of drama or even trauma before I came along in their life. These ones are often insistent that "life will always be miserable" and "everyone hates me" and other typical phrases said during not only the teenage years, but at any point in the life of someone who has been through a lot and has chosen a path of a pessimistic mindset. To these, I will always remind them that they still have a life to live. They cannot simply let their pessimistic thoughts control the way their life is going through active or passive contribution, whether directly or indirectly. Doing nothing, saying nothing, or learning nothing will not help your situation. Lacking the desire to heal those wounds to the best of your ability or limiting yourself to how much you share with the people in your life who can help is not great, especially if you think those things won't help to begin with. 

    So, either way, optimism and pessimism are quite delusional to me. There are some less extreme forms of both that are still delusional, but their delusions are a lot easier to escape. 

    I'm just rambling here. Like I said, it was something I was thinking about. But perhaps my rambling can serve a purpose here.

~

NaNoWriMo Word Count (as of today): 6,685

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Book Review #3

-
Book Review Dreyer's English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style Written by Benjamin Dreyer   If you are looking for a newer, fresher guide to the English language, this might be something to read. Dreyer is the Copy Chief of Random House, which gives him ample credibility to the wisdom and advice he offers. This book becomes a first step into the mind of a copy editor for multiple forms of writing. A lot of the information in this book serves as great advice and a springboard into other resources that Dreyer heartily recommends.   There is a lot of information to take in with this book. Its two sections (and thirteen chapters) cover a lot of material. The first section, "The Stuff in the Front," goes into detail about various style suggestions that you may want to consider on a basic level. Things such as punctuation; the rules and nonrules; and how to write foreign words in your work are critical for everything from flash fiction to novellas, from biographies...
Read more

Extra Note

-
 This goes to every American who either voted or did not vote recently. If you did not get what you wanted/needed, celebrate with those who did. For the first time in four years, those people may feel seen and valued.  If you did get what you wanted/needed, comfort and/or pray for those who did not. For the first time in four years, those people may feel uncertain and scared of their future.  No matter who you are as an American, please prepare to make the next four years the best they can be for yourself and others. Not just the ones you agree with, but everyone.  If your first reaction to my request was to become angry, then please take a moment to ask yourself why you got angry. The fact that you may not be able to set aside your feelings/convictions to understand how others feel is not what we as a full country need right now. For those of you who aren't American but still have elections in your country, I would kindly ask that you adapt this practice for when yo...
Read more

Canlanma Street Level, Story 1

-
Story 1    The holy incense follows the disciples out of the gilded temple hall. The Shepherd continues to swing the burner as he repeats the old mantras of the faith. The last disciple leaves and the burner settles as the Shepherd contemplates the list of rituals he must perform before the sun sets. The ritual implements have to be cleaned, the sacrifices burned, the acolytes of the temple purified, the-   "Shepherd Thanatos, we have a situation that requires your attention." An acolyte of the temple calls from below the altar. The Shepherd sighs and recites his calming mantra: "What I am about to do has not been approved." The Shepherd walks slowly behind the altar and finds the symbol on the side as he recites "chao regnat" under his breath. The symbol glows and opens a trap door under the altar. Shepherd Thanatos checks for other unwelcomed entities then slips under the altar and down the exposed staircase.   The acolytes in the room part as Shephe...
Read more