What if we dug in our heels and said “no” to the doom of whatever impending future we’re presented? Would that really change anything?
Let’s hear what Christiana Figueres, one of the world’s most accomplished diplomats, has to say on being stubbornly optimistic about our future, and how this can usher in a brighter reality for us all — even in some of our biggest fights, like climate change.
Good Ol’ Optimism
Optimism means envisioning our desired future and then actively pulling it closer.
— Christiana Figueres
Now, that’s a different definition of good ol’ optimism, isn’t it? Any goal, any vision for our future requires that we approach it with this state of mind. We have to believe a brighter future is possible before we can start reaching for it. We mean, when was the last time you hit something out of the park after having a pessimistic view of your likelihood of success the whole time? In order for success to happen, we first need to believe it will. It’s as simple as that.
Being the first in your family to go to college, starting a small business, raising a family, falling in love—these are all moments when we have had stubborn optimism. We have harnessed grit and determination and set aside despair and naysayers to reach our goals before. So what if we applied that same outlook to the big problems that face the entire world?
What if we saw the problems like climate change, poverty, access to clean water with stubborn optimism instead of future fatalism?
As is always the case, the best place to turn for wisdom is the thought leaders around us. And when it comes to stubborn optimism, there is no better expert than Costa Rican diplomat and central architect of The Paris Agreement, Christiana Figueres. She learned this philosophy from her father at a young age, and her message is one that if more people were to embrace would — for sure — change the world.
Here’s her incredible TED Talk:
The case for stubborn optimism on climate | Christiana Figueres – Video
Change Is Possible
Any reality we are given is not set in stone, it can be changed.
— Christiana Figueres
It’s not silly, crazy, or “seeing the world through rose-colored glasses” to believe that change is possible. If we want a future for ourselves and our grandchildren, we have to trust that it can actually happen, first.
We are all active participants in our collective future — and that isn’t a daunting statement. Imagine if instead of just a few people working tirelessly day in and out, asking for a change in a positive direction, all of us contributed a little to create this reality? What if we all refused to believe any other future was even possible?
Not all of us can go live off the grid or keep our garbage to the size of a mason jar (though both are great lifestyles for those who choose them) but we can all be more stubborn about bringing forward a better world.
All it takes is that denial, then the rest can fall into place. We can all seek out causes to support, with the resources we have. Together, we can be changemakers.
This article was first published on Goodness Exchange and is now being shared here in partnership with Mindvalley.
