"A cynic is a man who, when he smells flowers, looks around for a coffin."--H.L. Mencken
We all have enough problems in life without borrowing trouble. Yet some of us seem to always be expecting life to turn sour. We tend to spoil the good times by looking for something negative in them instead of just taking them for what they are. Some of us are always too ready to focus on the negative aspects of the past, the present, and even the future. In the words of Sidney J. Harris, "A cynic is not merely one who reads bitter lessons from the past; he is one who is prematurely disappointed in the future."
Whatever the past has been, there is nothing we can do about it now. We can focus on positive memories from the past and try to avoid dwelling on negative memories. Beyond that, we must think of the past as a canceled check. We must try hard to live in the present and look forward to the future. It is in this area that the cynics among us do the most damage. To be "prematurely disappointed in the future" just does not make any sense at all. We can have our fears about the future, but we must also have our hopes. How can we possibly enjoy the present if we are constantly engaging in negative thoughts about the future?
To a large extent, whether we are positive thinkers or negative thinkers is a matter of choice and habit. From a purely rational standpoint, positive thinking may not be any more logical than negative thinking, but it sure works a lot better. People who habitually engage in positive thinking are usually a lot happier than those who always focus on the negative side of life. Many who engage in habitual negative thinking argue that they are just being realistic about life. "If you don't expect much from life, you won't be disappointed," some say. But that is a terrible price to pay just to avoid disappointment.
All of us must accept the fact that we are going to have our share of troubles in life, but this fact need not prevent us from being happy during most of our lifetime. When trouble comes, we have no choice but to deal with it and then get on with our lives. While we are dealing with it, we may find it nearly impossible to be happy. But we must remember that moments of misery always pass. Most of us have many reasons to be happy much of the time, if we can only avoid dwelling on negative thoughts from the past and fears about the future. Does it make any sense to spoil the good times in the present by engaging in negative thinking about either the past or the future? .
Copyright 2014 Allen W. Smith
NOTE: Comments are welcome and encouraged.
TB—81—Posted 06/ 17/2014
