Stubborn optimism is revolutionary
The most revolutionary thing you can do today is to remain optimistic and maintain faith in your fellow human beings. This is how I do it.
According to a surprising number of angry strangers online, my outlook on life is “annoyingly optimistic.” I prefer “stubbornly optimistic” because, right now, staying optimistic about the world is both necessary and requires a great deal of conscious effort.
The last couple of weeks have been rough. Trump and his tech boys have been handed the keys to the US. They will joyride the shit out of it for their benefit, while others - both in the US and in the rest of the world - will pay the price for it.
Optimism is a muscle. If you want to be able to flex it, you need to train it, especially in times like these. If you don’t already, start now. Otherwise, you will lack the necessary endurance to be a sneaky Trojan horse for good until this shitshow is over.
I exercise my optimism by always looking for the good stuff. It doesn’t generate as much ad revenue for the media as all the bad stuff does, but it’s there. Find it. Here are two true stories I’ve come across in the past few years that I frequently use to fortify my optimism and restore faith in humanity.
400 people “broke into” a library …
… and nothing terrible happened. A few years ago, the Gothenburg City Library in Sweden accidentally forgot to lock the door over Halloween. Since an unlocked door is the international sign for "Welcome!" about 400 Gothenburgers happily wandered into the closed but unlocked library. What could possibly go wrong? Quite a lot.
But there was no chaos, vandalism, or injuries. The most radical thing that happened was people calmly reading newspapers, flipping through books, studying, or reading stories to their children. Over 200 books were borrowed, all neatly checked out through the self-checkout system.
Libraries are often the only places people can go without paying or buying coffee. This is fantastic, but when other parts of society withdraw from their social responsibilities, libraries are too often left to carry a heavy burden. It creates problems that must be taken seriously. But 400 people entering a closed library and behaving impeccably is also a part of reality that must be taken seriously.
Six boys were marooned on an island for 15 months …
… and they didn’t bully or kill each other. In 1965, a small boat capsized somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. Six boys survived and washed up on the deserted island of Ata. They were stranded alone for over a year. This is where everyone who's ever read William Golding's Lord of the Flies probably starts envisioning the horrors that must have happened next. But, no.
The real-life stranded boys didn't choose violence and tyranny. They decided to cooperate and take good care of each other. If they argued, they took a time-out until everyone had calmed down. By the time rescue arrived, they had managed their situation remarkably well. They had a small garden, divided their labour, and established routines. They had even successfully treated a broken leg. In short, they handled their situation excellently without harming or killing each other.
Does this matter? Yes!
You can, of course, always counter good examples like these with bad ones. Human history is packed to the rafters with horrific examples of malicious intent and cruelty, but that’s not the point. The point is that most people don’t choose to destroy things just because they get the chance. Most people do not immediately turn to violence to gain power just because they can. Most people are - despite our many differences - decent human beings. We must not forget that.
Then there are the others - the fearmongering few. They are always ridiculously alike. They want us to fear each other because our fear is the currency on which they build personal wealth and power. You know they are successful at their horrid game when friends and family who used to be decent suddenly turn malicious and hateful. We must stop this from happening.
This is why I have chosen to be a stubbornly optimistic outpost in a crazy and chaotic world. I collect stories about people who decided to be good when they didn’t have to. I keep all those stories close to my heart and trust them to keep me safe from all the fearmongering. I always keep a light on in my little outpost so the decent people who have lost themselves to fear have a warm place to return to. Without it, their only path leads them deeper into fear, and we can’t have that.
The most revolutionary thing you can do today is to remain optimistic and maintain faith in your fellow human beings. Train and flex your optimism muscle as often as possible. Remember to leave the light on for those who want to return from fear. And never give up.
Do you have an uplifting story about when things could have gone bad but turned out okay? Please share in the comments!
Very nicely put, "The most revolutionary thing you can do today is to remain optimistic and maintain faith in your fellow human beings. Train and flex your optimism muscle as often as possible. Remember to leave the light on for those who want to return from fear. And never give up."
I agree. Optimism is the most powerful force for positive change, and the Optimism Principle reminds us that optimism is the answer to life’s most pressing questions. Every challenge, setback, and uncertainty can be met with a belief that things will work out in the end—and they do when we take action with an optimistic mindset.
Optimism isn’t just a perspective; it’s a daily practice. I make a conscious effort to train my optimism muscle, see possibilities where others see roadblocks, and lift those around me who may be struggling. That’s why I love Anna Troberg’s words about leaving the light on for those returning from fear. Optimism isn’t just personal—it’s infectious. It creates space for others to step out of doubt and into hope.
Optimism transforms teams, fuels innovation, and builds resilience in ways that cynicism and fear never could. As leaders, colleagues, friends, and family members, we have the opportunity—no, the responsibility—to be beacons of optimism. And when we choose that path, we don’t just change our own lives; we change the world.
So today, I challenge you: How will you train your optimism muscle? What light can you leave on for someone else?
Beautiful. Thank you. I have been feeling at a loss recently due to Trump and his tech boys. I needed to hear this and I will seek out the positive. I feel like if you seek it, you'll see it everywhere. Like when you get a new car and you start spotting others just like it!