Ah, the next delightful directive from The Optimist’s Creed: “To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.” One might reasonably assume this involves a certain level of delusion, or perhaps a rigorous training regimen in ignoring reality. Because, let’s be honest, sometimes the “sunny side” is simply a rather aggressive glare off a poorly polished surface, and trying to find it feels less like a noble pursuit and more like a squinting contest.
Now, before you accuse me of suggesting we all don rose-tinted glasses so thick they induce a perpetual state of cheerful obliviousness, let’s dissect the profound, almost audacious, core of this tenant. This isn’t about ignoring the clouds; it’s about acknowledging their existence but refusing to let them define the entire sky. It’s about understanding that while cynicism is often mistaken for intelligence, true wisdom lies in the willful act of seeking out the constructive, the hopeful, and the potential for good, even when it’s meticulously hidden under layers of absurdity and inconvenience.
“After all, if we’re going to bother existing, we might as well try to make it a slightly less dreadful experience, right?”
“To look at the sunny side of everything” isn’t a passive wish; it’s an active pursuit. It requires a certain mental discipline, a conscious pivot away from the gravitational pull of negativity that so often feels like the path of least resistance. It means asking, even when presented with a thoroughly depressing scenario, “What’s the least terrible thing about this?” or “What opportunity, however minuscule, might be lurking in this dumpster fire?” It’s a pragmatic optimism, born not of ignorance, but of the understanding that dwelling on the bleakest possible outcome rarely improves anything. In fact, it’s remarkably effective at guaranteeing said bleak outcome. And then comes the truly audacious part: “and make your optimism come true.” This isn’t merely about feeling optimistic; it’s about manifesting it. It implies that optimism isn’t just an emotion; it’s a force. It suggests that by consistently adopting a positive outlook, by genuinely believing in a better outcome, you somehow, inexplicably, tip the scales in its favor. Is it magic? Perhaps a little. More likely, it’s the recognition that an optimistic mindset fuels perseverance, encourages innovation, and opens doors that a cynical one would have slammed shut long ago. When you genuinely believe something good can happen, you’re far more likely to take the steps necessary to make it happen. You approach challenges as puzzles to be solved, rather than impenetrable walls. You become an active participant in your own preferred reality, rather than a passive observer of a gloomy one.
The beautiful, and frankly, rather inconvenient, truth is that optimism often has a peculiar way of becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. Not because the universe bends to our every whim, but because our mindset dictates our actions. If you expect failure, you’re less likely to try again. If you expect difficulty, you’re more likely to find it. But if you look for the sunny side – even if it’s just a glint of light through a crack in the pavement – you’re more inclined to seek out paths, opportunities, and connections that can transform that faint glimmer into a brighter day.
So, while the idea of perpetually skipping through life, whistling a happy tune, might be slightly irritating to those of us who appreciate the subtle nuances of a good existential crisis, this tenant is far more profound. It’s a call to agency, a demand that we actively participate in shaping our own realities, starting with our internal perspective. It’s about choosing, with witty defiance, to seek the good and then, with determined effort, to bring it to fruition. After all, if we’re going to bother existing, we might as well try to make it a slightly less dreadful experience, right?
What aspect of “looking at the sunny side” do you find most challenging in your own life?
Justin Lockridge 
Leave a comment