Can we be too optimistic?
In the story of our lives, we are the protagonists… well, unless you’re a masochist. In that case, let’s have a chat offline. 😉
In our life’s journey, we are the main character. We have a story arc, split into smaller chapters — each a plot in itself. And we’re rooting for ourselves along the way. If we’re lucky, we also have loved ones (supporting characters), who add dimension to our journeys and root who for us too.
In past articles on this blog, we’ve talked a lot about character development and the traits needed for one to be compelling. One of those traits, that makes it more likely for audiences to lean in and pay attention, is hunger. The main character of any story must want something — badly. After all, the journey they go on next is all about whether or not they’ll achieve their goal.
If the character is only kind of invested in it, well, the audience will only kind of care.
An element that goes hand in hand with hunger is optimism. While a character works through the challenges and obstacles inherent in reaching a goal, chances are, they don’t quit when things get hard. Why? Optimism. There’s something inside all of us that’s innately hopeful. There’s a lot of research actually about how hope is a survival mechanism. Without it, we might not survive… as individuals or as a species.
But as with many things in life, optimism can be a double edged sword.
We must find the right balance. Personally, I oscillate between over-optimism and outright cynicism, depending on the day. If I were to average those peaks and valleys out, I’d fall somewhere in the pragmatist/realist ballpark. I question whether these more extreme swings are healthy. Would I be more effective if those peaks and troughs were a bit flattened out?
I came across a great discussion today, hosted by Duke University’s behavioral economics department that touches on this. Basically, it was a panel of scientists that study decision-making and cognitive bias.
Behavioral researcher, Mariel Beasley, gave such a great answer to the question, "how can we be making better decisions amid so much uncertainty?" She talked about the "optimism bias" and how sometimes, having an overly optimistic mindset can cloud our judgement and get in the way of planning for contingencies. She also discussed the "ostrich effect" and how easy it is to delay hard decision-making, particularly in difficult times like this.
For those of us who really want to introspect and figure out how we can best move forward individually and collectively (including having some hard conversations with ourselves), have a listen to her answer in the video above. It’s about 3 mins long.
Wishing you all the best in this time of countless unknowns,
Amina