image by Eirik Newth

On The Sunny Way, we’ve talked a lot about the damaging effects of cynicism. It separates us from the world, making us spectators rather than players in life. Instead of pulling our boots on and participating in creation, we make snarky comments and doubt the motives of those who are trying to make something new.

Of course, cynicism in its way is a deep expression of care. We’re disappointed in the gap between the way the world is and the way we want it to be, and we start to believe that the gap can’t be bridged: That’s just the way things are.

This is understandable, for sure. It’s hard to face the problems we have to solve. They are huge, and we are small. And this point of view is pretty deeply embedded in us. I mean, growing up, how cool was it to do the right thing and be gung-ho about possibilities for the future? As I recall, not at all. The cool kids were the ones who gave everything and everyone else the finger.

What makes it even more complicated is that there is an awful lot of stuff in the world that deserves to be flipped off. So much of what we’re presented with—movies, TV shows, news programs—is manipulative and shallow and coarse. Ideas are largely mediated by money and power rather than truth, beauty, and goodness.

So while cynicism is an immature response to reality, so is blind optimism. I mean, seriously—to look at the world as it stands now and hold tight to the belief that everything will somehow turn out OK seems as ridiculous as believing that we’re all screwed no matter what we do. In both cases, we’re like a kid looking around at the mess in her room and—either throwing her hands up, or hoping mom will come take care of it—going downstairs to watch TV instead of cleaning up.

What’s required from us is something more active than either pessimism or optimism. What’s required of us is our full participation in life. Only then do we earn our right to be optimistic, because we’re not just hoping that someone figures out how to fix all this screwed-up stuff and live in healthier ways—we’re engaged in that process ourselves.

Of course, there are no guarantees—it’s possible that each of us will try as hard as we can and still fail. But we certainly won’t succeed unless we get in there and start making things happen. Understanding this risk and taking it on anyway is what being a grown-up responsible person is all about.

The link between now and the future is action. Whether it’s deepening your connection to consciousness, reading a book to a child, planting seeds for a garden, conversing thoughtfully with someone with different views, or writing a letter in support of legislation to make solar power more realistic in your community ... what can you do today—right now—to bring about the future you want to see?

Whatever it is, I challenge you to do it. How do you feel? Better? Hopeful? Scared? Stuck? More importantly, does how you feel matter as much as knowing that you are participating in the game? I hope you’ll share your thoughts with us in the comments.