The Case for Relentless Optimism
Things are pretty dark right now. It is easy to feel sad or overwhelmed. Personally, I'm finding it hard not to get stuck doomscrolling Twitter. So I want to make a case for a different kind of unrelenting optimism.
The Problem
When we usually think of optimism we think of positive thinking or “good vibes.”
This gentle optimism collapses when we look at the reality that our systems are unstable, that life is fragile.
The human brain isn’t capable of handling the vast amounts of information we’re flooded with every day. In an effort to “stay informed” we watch Fox News or read The New York Times. The news cycles feel violent and exhausting – because they are. We are paralyzing and emotionally flooding ourselves with outrage, overwhelm, and anxiety.
The kind of optimism I’m arguing for isn’t denial or forced cheerfulness.
Optimism as a Form of Refusal
I’ve written that arguing with reality is pointless, but also that sometimes it is okay to tilt at windmills.
There’s a phrase we often repeat in my family: "Nobody is coming to save you.”
The phrase is a statement of our own responsibility for the outcome. A declaration that acting as if your actions matter means that they’re more likely to.
Relentless optimism is stubbornness. It is continuing to help, practice, and love even if you're not sure doing so is worthwhile.
“I Don’t Have Much to Feel Optimistic About”
One of the most valuable classes I took in college was a 10-day emergency first response training.
For 12 hours a day, we practiced rescuing people with broken bones, lacerations, and head trauma from snow-covered ravines. We cried when our “patients” died – even though it was just an act. We were practicing emergency rescue before we needed those skills.
I've written about my friend on the tiny island of Vieques who lives there because it’s difficult – it takes 16 hours to run to Costco.
There's a lot of bad news in the news. I was just listening to an interview with the mayor of Minneapolis; he sounded exhausted and furious about federal overreach in his city. Nationally, and around the world, there isn't a lot of confidence in leadership, markets, or work.
I practice resilience so that when things are more difficult, I’m better able to handle reality. The challenge is the point.
Relentless Optimism as Practice
The cultivation of relentless optimism is a set of behaviors, a practice.
Relentless optimism is what we read. It is me reading a physical book in the sauna when what I would really like to do is watch a movie.
Relentless optimism is the skills we practice. In a world of generative AI, is it really worth writing this newsletter? I do so to be helpful and to improve my own thinking.
With the rise of GLP-1s, do we need to go to the gym or eat well? Doing difficult things is the point.
One of my favorite phrases that came out of the COVID-19 pandemic is, "Look for the helpers."
Help one person. Learn one skill. Do something.
Cynicism Is Costly
Cynicism feels smart.
There's a social reward for being the one who "sees through the Matrix," who predicts the collapse.
But actually cynicism is a mask. It's a posture, an energy sink, and an excuse to not commit to anything.
If you want to be liked, be the most enthusiastic, energetic, and positive person in the room. It feels risky – and it is. But the cost of cynicism is that we stop learning and we stop investing in other people.
Relentless optimism is the harder, braver choice.
Train for Chaos
The chaos in the world is not going away. I think it’s only going to increase.
Therefore, emotional durability matters. Skill accumulation matters. Most of all, community and community support is essential.
Relentless optimism is the belief that preparation is still worth it, that growth is still possible, and that you can become anti-fragile, harder to break.
Throughout most of human history, instability has been the norm. But we can still say, "I'm not done yet." We can still show up and help people. Relentless optimism is a refusal to let chaos dictate our identities or our actions.
Relentless optimism is not naive optimism about the world. It is the choice to hope and take action, anyway.
3 Things I’ve Loved This Week
Quote I’m Considering
“There is no redeeming quality in harshness.”
From Us: Getting Past You & Me to Build a More Loving Relationship by Terry Real
Tool I’m Using
I spent the last 7 months trying more than a dozen different CRMs. For years, I've wanted a single system to track all my contacts and communication across platforms, and help me remember people I’d lost touch with.
I’ve been using Clarify.ai for the last month and love it! It auto-populates contacts, suggests deals, and summarizes meetings in advance.
Pro tip: you can decrease the number of automated tasks so that the software is free or have it do more complex AI-enabled sales automations via paid credits.
Book I’ve Loved
I just read The Art Thief by Michael Finkel. And as a lover of heists, I can’t believe I hadn’t read this book before.
By stealing “for the love of art” from a myriad of small museums and castles throughout France and Switzerland, Stéphane Breitwieser accumulated more than a billion dollars in priceless art, which he kept in his attic bedroom.
The book is a true story, bonkers, and an excellent read.
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Until next week,
Robin
