Short excerpt from a YouTube video (How I Became an Optimist | Simon Sinek). In this segment Simon Sinek attributes optimism to upbringing (parents) and possibly biology, argues that optimism spreads socially, and distinguishes constructive optimism from "blind positivity." He acknowledges current Covid-related difficulties but maintains a belief in a brighter future achieved through collective effort.
You're an unshakable optimist. Is that by choice? Is that natural?
I'm sure it's learned. I'm sure something happened in my childhood that made me that way. My parents are. You know, I'm sure it had something with my parents and their outlook on the world.
It could be a chemical imbalance, some combination.
You know, I think optimism breeds optimism. I think if you have a kernel of it and you water it and allow it to grow, it'll really take hold. And the more optimistic you become, the more optimistic people around you become, and then you become inspired by them and stay positive. Because I think it breathes and like.
Mogwais.
But I think where people make a mistake is they confuse optimism and blind positivity. I'm not naive because I'm an optimist. I don't deny darkness, but I believe the future is bright. And so even now, in these strange Covid times, yeah, it's dark.
But I know there's a light at the end of this tunnel. I don't know how far away it is, and I don't know how long it'll take us to get there, but I know if we work together and help each other, we'll. We'll get to the end of this tunnel stronger and better than we went in. Yeah, that's optimism. Yeah. Blind positivity is everything's fine, everything's fine, everything's good. Agreed. And that's actually not helpful, because that's actually not true. But you're ignoring something. Yeah, but I'm not naive and I'm cynical and I'm all the things, but I still believe the future is bright. Yeah.
