If being a skeptic honestly makes you happy, go for it!
I had a couple of pieces of good news in the last couple of weeks. I’m not making more than twice as much as I did this time last year. And I also had an essay in the recently published A Cup of Comfort for Horse Lovers. That’s a definite plus for the freelance writing career, since the "Cup of Comfort" series has international distribution and a better reputation with critics than, say, the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series.
Now, I have been writing since I could hold a pen. Even on my taxes, where the IRS asks what occupation I am, I put down, "Freelance Writer". So why am I so shocked that the career seems to be finally going well? Perhaps because I’m a skeptic at heart.
Pessimism vs. Optimism
Pessimism is a hard habit to break. In proper doses, it can save you from heartbreak and physical pain. By not getting too carried away by optimism, you can help look at a situation objectively and make wiser decisions. However, too much of it can really make you miserable as opposed to someone who takes a level-headed approach to things. Even when given a compliment, a hard-core pessimist won’t believe it and can’t take any pleasure from it.
Although being skeptical is sometimes considered a sin in modern society, being a complete optimist is just plain nuts. No, I don’t have a degree in medicine, but I have taken Pysch 101 and have been through therapy. When I say a complete optimist, I mean someone who is ALWAYS bubbling over with happiness, no matter what. Natural disaster, ice cream falling off of the cone, tax audit — it doesn’t matter. They always look on the bright side of life.
I wonder if they are really happy or if they are only pretending to be happy? But then again, I’m still a bit of a skeptic.
Keep On Taking the Medication
Just like with anything in life, we all need a balance. Although the adage "change your thoughts, change your life" is true, you do still have to accept reality. No matter what any book or DVD or blogger tells you, life will never be one long unending series of happiness and joy. You can’t expect the world to change just because your thoughts have changed. However, you can mix both pessimism and optimism. Yes, you can’t change the world, but you can change the way you react to the world.
It’s just like with an illness. You can’t cure an illness with just good thoughts (not usually). You have to take medication. So, if you’re ill, take the medication and think good thoughts.
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