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In Defence Of Hope
We all know those people who can find the cloud in every silver lining.
Oh, you just started a new business? Here are seven reasons it’s probably going to fail. Wow, you won the lottery?! Did you know that 70% of lottery winners end up broke? Awww, you’re having a baby? Well, say goodbye to sleep and your sex life and the luxury of a healthy disgust for poop.
Whatever the subject, they can find the most negative way to spin it. And worse, because there’s some truth to what they’re saying, you’re the one being unreasonable if you get annoyed by the endless doomsaying.
But what these happiness vampires don’t seem to understand is that there’s a difference between saying something factual and saying something that’s even remotely useful.
I mean, don’t get me wrong. Sometimes it’s wise to consider the worst-case scenario. Sometimes it’s helpful to learn from other people’s mistakes. Sometimes it’s sensible to prepare for the worst. Even as you hope for the best.
But sometimes, the most valuable thing of all, is knowing when to shut the f**k up.
It’s fair to say that our cloud/silver lining ratio has been out of whack lately.
