Becoming more optimistic is a virtue.
I think I may be one of the most positive and optimistic people out there. Why? Maybe it is a result of my hard knock life upbringing (scars), or something else?
Modern day biases
The first thing is thinking sociologically, and thinking about modern-day society. It seems that the biases in today’s world, one is not permitted to be happy, jovial, friendly or gay. Instead, one is commanded to be morose, dark, melancholy, and depressive.
For example this thought,
“How can you be so happy and optimistic when there is so much pain and suffering and injustice in the world?â€
According to Nietzsche in the birth of tragedy, Nietzsche thought that in fact, tragedy, and what Albert Camus may call the “absurdâ€, perhaps the point exactly is this:
What makes tragedy so optimistic and positive? In lieu of all the tragedy, there is still hope, joy, and optimism.
For example as Nietzsche says at the end of “the will to power“, he sees reality as Bacchus or Dionysus forever being cut off, but being born a new. Or our modern-day depiction, imagine Deadpool perpetually getting his limbs cut off, but still being able to regenerate his limbs anew. Certainly he still feels the pain, but in fact, he is practically immortal. Or consider Wolverine, he still feels the pain when he unsheathes the adamantine claws from his body, and he still feels the insane pain when he is wounded, yet, he is still able to regenerate.
It takes more courage to be friendly, jovial, positive, and friendly than to be standoffish
Another weird thing, it seems that the bias in today’s world is that it is cool to be antisocial or standoffish. This leads to people wearing hats, sunglasses, hiding their face, wearing oversized clothes, and perpetually staring at their smart phone.
However, I believe this to be a cowardly approach and aesthetic.
Practices
How can you practice being more optimistic and positive?
- When you’re walking around the block, or outside, just wave and say good morning to everyone, regardless if or if not they respond to you or not.
- Maybe we should consider Jesus as a very positive and optimistic thinker, philosopher, and ultimate skin in the game. FYI I am Catholic and a “cult follower†of Jesus.
- 50×50? How far should we be relentlessly kind jovial and cheerful, even to those who suck? I say 50×50
- Murder them with kindness: A dark and morose thought, but still positive?
Weightlifting, hormones, testosterone?
There is a bias that testosterone makes you angry, and gives you “roid rage†(steroid rage).
However, this is my theory a la Nassim Taleb:
In fact, men with higher levels of natural testosterone are actually much more jovial, kind, friendly, and courteous than men with low testosterone.
This is what I believe to be the nuance:
If you are a man with high levels of natural testosterone, you’re happy and kind 99.9% of time. However, that .01% of the time that’s someone crosses the line, you tolerate no bullshit.
In fact, it is actually my theory that men with low levels of testosterone are the ones who are the most “passive aggressive.†A real man could not even be passive aggressive if he wanted to or tried.
Weight lifting is the answer
Very simple — one rep max style lifting, the ERIC KIM APPROACH.
That is,
Lift the maximum weight you possibly can, just once.
No “reps†(repetitions).
I believe this to be the best way to naturally boost your testosterone, practice yelling and screaming by getting insanely loud (primal screaming, HYPELIFTING, hyping yourself up). Let us consider modern day man is no longer permitted to be loud, yell, scream, or be a “savage†or beast.
Also, the insane huge endorphin rush associated with attempting a one repetition maximum lift. You must concentrate 100% of your effort, and focus, before attempting to lift a new personal record, something you have never attempted before. To me this is the ultimate life hack.
Unconquerable
I believe in life, as long as you have ambition, sleep well (8-12 hours a night), eat well, there is nothing you cannot attempt or do.
Why is everything so thoroughly dissatisfying to me?
Another aberrant thought in regards to optimism, perhaps it is extreme dissatisfaction which is the genesis of my optimism. Why? I believe it in my power and ability to change and steer my fate, and the direction of my life, in a way that I find personally pleasing.
Adding more dynamism to your life
Once you have a perfect life, then what? Then the next step is to simply keep adding more dynamism to your life.