What should you really make of 'Optimism'?
Growing up, we are often propelled to be optimistic at all times. A quote by Naval: "Pessimists might sound intelligent but it's optimists that really make it in life."
So what do we intend to mean by saying be optimistic?
Being optimistic does not mean everything is fun, happy, and glowing at all times. It does not mean that once our current problems have subsided, there will be peace and calm at great lengths.
Instead, optimism essentially implies that, when things turn black again, there shall be light again.
The reason things tend to get better is that there are so many blunders, screw-ups, and disasters to learn from. You can’t separate one from the other. Evolution doesn’t teach by showing you what works, but by destroying what doesn’t.
That’s why the Great Depression unleashed a surge of productivity, and World War II produced a staggering number of technological breakthroughs, from nuclear energy to jets to penicillin. The biggest innovations don’t occur when everyone is happy and gainfully employed; they happen when there’s enough stress to push people into gear, forcing problem-solving.
Nassim Taleb says, “The excess energy released from overreaction to setbacks is what innovates!”
It sounds callous, but one version of a pessimistic world is one where nothing breaks, no accidents occur, no mistakes are made, no mishaps happen, and every new endeavor is successful. As comfortable as it sounds, all motivation to improve would diminish – which is the opposite of optimism. There are 100 things to be pessimistic about, but remember, you only need to win once, to overcome all previous defeats.
Cheers!
End-Week Wisdom:
"The world is driven by envy, not greed." - Charlie Munger
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