EK CUP CHAI

There was some discussion happening somewhere about pessimism and optimism, and which one helps better? Let’s call the discussing parties(?) the optimists and the pessimist for our ease.

So in the discussion, wise words from Norman Vincent, Stephen Covey, Andrew Carnegie were blurted by the optimists. The pessimists said that even with all the positive thoughts, Andrew Carnegie and Ayn Rand had to live a lonely life in the end and asked why? Somehow the topic changed!

Later some said that pessimism brings out the best in people because they are looking for loopholes in their own works and some said it is the ‘optimism in their pessimism’! One pessimist used this chance to show that at the end, every optimist had to be pessimistic otherwise it would lead to over confidence (this is one of my favorite terms – over confidence)

And the talk somehow went over to Indian Cricket Team. Some said Indian Team will win the world cup, and some said it will not! The optimists showed India’s last world cup effort as an example, and pessimists said that last time was ‘Laaaa…st time’ and only recent ‘history’ was more important than anything else. One optimist really got angry and shouted that he will talk about optimism only after India’s ‘winning streak’ in World Cup! The discussion ended there!

I know cricket is a huge thing for many, but I’m hugely nervous now that ‘Cricket’ (and alas that too One Day Cricket) is going to decide few people’s idea of Optimism and Pessimism!

But on a serious note what is optimism? Is it simply positive thinking?

But how come one suddenly realizes that positive thinking is necessary in a situation? Isn’t it only when there is ‘negative’ influence around us that we tell ourselves, “this is the time we need to be positive” So what brought the negative situation! Isn’t life itself a combination of negatives – bringing out positives – positive actions bringing more negative actions – and then the vicious cycle!

Is talking about positives and negatives a vicious cycle? How does one break this ‘cycle’? (I understand …not with pessimism and optimism) Also another question…is it necessary to break this cycle at all?
I understand I’m going to receive a lot of flak for this post…but atleast someone will come up with answers!(now is that optimism in me?)