Is your glass half empty or half full?
Many would say that your answer places you under one of two headings:
Optimist or Pessimist.
I guess I could spend this entire post telling you all of the benefits that having a good attitude can have on your life. Or I might choose to play the advocate for a more logical and realistic outlook on daily events. But honestly that's boring and I think we've heard it all before.
Instead I want to talk about courage.
When you type "optimism" and search for images on the web you see illustrations of people walking straight into stupid messes without a clue. There is this overwhelming idea that optimistic thinking is a fools notion. That only the naive, the extremely young or the potentially brain dead really believe that kind of an outlook is valid. While somewhat endearing that view is actually extremely shallow.
I think that people who consistently keep an optimistic view on life are in reality extremely courageous people. Believing for the best and choosing to have joy in difficulties and trials is more than just a superficial, stupid or childish endeavor. Over the last 6 months two of my friends have been diagnosed with cancer. Both are vibrant young moms and career women who have had to endure numerous surgeries and chemo therapy treatments since their diagnosis. For one of them this is not a new battle, this is the third time around.
I think that people who consistently keep an optimistic view on life are in reality extremely courageous people. Believing for the best and choosing to have joy in difficulties and trials is more than just a superficial, stupid or childish endeavor. Over the last 6 months two of my friends have been diagnosed with cancer. Both are vibrant young moms and career women who have had to endure numerous surgeries and chemo therapy treatments since their diagnosis. For one of them this is not a new battle, this is the third time around.
The intereting thing is both of these women have been optimistic through out their illnesses. They go to every appointment, endure every treatment and cherish every good day with a heart full of hope. They take delight in the simple things and take every opportunity to simply enjoy what they're doing and who they're doing it with. The reality is their situations are very grim but it doesn't stop them from looking for the silver lining and fighting to keep positive.
Pessimistic people generally look for reasons not to take a risk and join the fight. Often they are looking for the easy way out. People of courage look at the battle, know that it's a difficult road but choose to believe that if they give it all they've got they can overcome adversity and be triumphant.
I do not mean to be a parroting Pollyanna churning out tired cliches about the beauty in life. Instead I plan to purposefully choose to live each day courageously with joy and steadfast hope that today's outcome will be tomorrow's blessing. In Isaiah 61 we are reminded that God promises to give us beauty from the ashes and joy from our time of mourning. Our lives may not be easy or perfect but there is great wisdom in maintaining a positive and courageous outlook. As we read through scripture we find that again and again God invites us to trust him, believe that all his plans for us and his promises are good and then step out in faith. If we really believe that's true then nothing is holding us back from living courageously and optimistically expecting that though there are sorrows in the night, joy comes in the morning.
