Ser optimista no lo es todo

I’ve always had a fairly optimistic disposition, but something I’ve learned over the years is that while optimism is certainly important and praiseworthy, it is often superficial and lacking in real substance and sustainability. An optimist feels hopeful about the future, yes, but that feeling is fleeting. Often the most well intentioned optimist in the world can find their optimism irreparably overcome by external factors.

Happiness, on the other hand, is a sturdy anchor. Sincere happiness, aka happiness that is rooted in the right things, has the ability to sustain us no matter what circumstance may arrive.

Happiness is something we choose. And when we sincerely choose happiness as a governing principle of our lives, we quickly learn that circumstance has no inherent power.

Any power that our life circumstance holds, is power that we give it.

To borrow a line from one of my personal heroes, Viktor Frankl (Man’s Search for Meaning):

"Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way"

Richie Norton.

*