# Optimism for Cynical Assholes * I have always been very negative * I found optimism and wholesomeness cringe inducing and trite * We don't want to be openly positive for fear of judgement from others * "Oh, you're one of *those* people" * Or for fear of rejection, for them not reciprocating * How fucked up is it that we are scared of being judged for being happy? Of being judged for caring about someone? * I have always had trouble expressing my affection for partners, family and friends * Sometimes I would feel like I should say something but I was paralyzed by fear of looking "stupid" while doing it * It may not look like it, but sharing your happiness and compassion takes immense courage * ... more about having trouble opening up, anecdotes etc. * Some people find this distasteful because they see the world as a cruel and unforgiving where you must *earn* your place * Sure, whatever, the world is cruel and doesn't care about you * Isn't that a strong argument *for* being positive? * I doubt many of us will get to the end of our lives and think "I am *so* glad that I remained cynical the whole way, it really made it all worthwhile" We're playing a bigger game here, it's not just about how you feel but about how you *could* feel. * Let's say you're actually open to the idea of being positive, what steps can you take? * Affirmations * Gratitude practices * Appreciating the little things * Notes on **how** you can fight the voice in your head that tells you "this is dumb I wanna stop" --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://notes.bf.wtf/philosophy/incomplete-articles/optimism-for-cynical-assholes.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.