Sunny side up

I don't normally make New Year's resolutions, but sometime this January I decided to take a more positive attitude about life. I have a tendency to be somewhat negative, pessimistic, and critical, and I'm tired of it.

So I've consciously tried to derail negative trains of thought. And the first thing I discovered was how many of these thoughts flit through my head every day - stray worries, pointless criticisms, remembered insults. The second thing I learned was how many of my blog entries were inspired by negative or critical thinking - topics like dumb celebrities, political craziness, bad movies, closed-minded skeptics. And the third thing I learned was how much time I spend responding to other people's arguments or opinions, rather than simply going my own way.

It's been rather eye-opening. The immediate consequence was fewer blog posts. All sorts of possible blog entries occurred to me, but they didn't pass the smile test, so they were discarded unwritten. At this point, I'm following the advice most of us got from our moms: If you don't have anything nice to say, just don't say anything.

And it works! I feel less preoccupied with trying to prove that "I'm right and they're wrong." Let people disagree with me - who cares? It's incredibly liberating to realize that you don't have to win every argument or get the last word - or even get any word.

It's a commonplace, but true, that the intellectual diversity of our society is one of its great strengths. In a division-of-labor society, we tend to complement each other's strengths and weaknesses. If one person is good at linear thinking, another may be good at garnering intuitive insights. This multiplicity of outlooks and approaches makes us stronger as a community than we would be if we all thought the same way and agreed on everything.

But if this is true, then why should I seek to make other people think of things my way? It makes no sense. It's just ego-tripping.

I admit I still fall into the habit of arguing, but not as often as before. Putting the focus on the positive is the way to go. Try it and see.

:-)

Comments

[John C]

Michael,

A lot of us like your critical thinking. It is usually a rather sane and rational analysis for a world that seems insane and irrational at times.

However, you are on to something. Thinking positive thoughts really does a lot to change your direction in life and lift your spirits. Look at it this way, nothing ever gets done in life without a thought proceeding it (I hope did not open a philosophical debate with that statement). So, if one is positive and ambitious in their thoughts, they are likely to be happier and more sucessful in their lives and actions.

[Henry James]

Well, the point is, one can't make up a Thin Man story with Nick dumping Nora or developing a gay relationship. Since this is not the way Thin Man stories are supposed to work, the reader / viewer will be right to take these "Nick" and "Nora" as fakes.

This suggests that even in matters as vague as thrillers, there are certain verification techniques that need to be understood and followed if one wants to produce and consume thrillers properly.

Then take GWOT news stories as thrillers and you've got the point ;-)

No, I am not forcing my views on anybody, just taking thrillers seriously.

[Brins]

I'm happy for you to take the blog in whatever direction you see fit, and it sounds like a good idea to me, as well. I look forward to seeing how this new outlook takes its course here!

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

Michael,

Can you still smile when you think of Ayn Rand and, say, Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology? (I know, I know. No sense in going to that extreme!) Since that's kinda tough, here's a song below that someone sent me that might bring out the smile...

Michael

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're Ayn, ITOE the line

I find it very, very easy to be true
I find myself alone when each day is through
Yes, I'll admit that I'm a fool for you
Because you're Ayn, ITOE the line

As sure as night is dark and day is light
I keep you on my mind both day and night
And happiness I've known proves that it's right
Because you're Ayn, ITOE the line

You've got a way to keep me on your side
You give me cause for love that I can't hide
For you I know I'd even try to turn the tide
Because you're Ayn, ITOE the line

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're Ayn, ITOE the line

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

Michael,

Can you still smile when you think of Ayn Rand and, say, Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology? (I know, I know. No sense in going to that extreme!) Since that's kinda tough, here's a song below that someone sent me that might bring out the smile...

Michael

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're Ayn, ITOE the line

I find it very, very easy to be true
I find myself alone when each day is through
Yes, I'll admit that I'm a fool for you
Because you're Ayn, ITOE the line

As sure as night is dark and day is light
I keep you on my mind both day and night
And happiness I've known proves that it's right
Because you're Ayn, ITOE the line

You've got a way to keep me on your side
You give me cause for love that I can't hide
For you I know I'd even try to turn the tide
Because you're Ayn, ITOE the line

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're Ayn, ITOE the line

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

Michael,

Sorry about the double post. Computer glitch. Can you delete it?

Michael

[Michael Prescott]

No need to delete the second post. It was funny both times!

And yes, I'm smiling. See? :-)

[Kelly Miller]

So much truth and insight in the original statement. I am a people watcher. Looking at a crowd is not nearly so interesting as seeing the individual faces in that crowd. And how many of them are smiling? Or laughing? Or just look happy or content? I think that all too often, every conversation, every thought process, every project, every relationship, unnecessarily becomes a competition. We want to be smarter, more eloquent, more... You're right. Why are so many of our conversations so competitive? Why argue? Why do we have to win? Ego maybe...insecurity at times... I think if we let go of some of that, we'd be a lot happier for it! (And maybe those around us would let go of their need to argue with us as well! Wouldn't that be beautiful!? I know I'd smile a lot more!!)
:-)
:-)