Culture

Optimism, Pessimism and Fear

Thoughts on Optimism, Pessimism and Fear 

In Will Smith’s 2013 movie After Earth his character distinguishes the difference between Danger and Fear;”Fear is an illusion, Danger is real. ” In physically demanding collision/impact sports the most prevalent characteristic between the great athletes and the average ones is usually the ability to overcome the fear of hurting yourself. Fear directly affects your relationships particularly the one with your sense of self, imagine the difficulty of not being able to trust yourself let alone another person. The level of trust that exist when in a partnership needs to be solid  in order to be successful this foundation is built on integrity, introspection and a healthy dose of self respect.  

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I’ve always described myself as a realist with the heart of an eternal optimist. There is no doubt that the majority of my life decisions have been led with my heart it is my greatest strength and sometimes exploited weakness. The concept of “learned pessimism” is something I deeply agree with and a skill I’ve learned even though it doesn’t come natural. Optimism and pessimism are two different sides of the same coin, understanding this enables us to better understand and perceive the situations and circumstances we find ourselves in, as a result we learn more about our individual human qualities, would even go so far to say a greater appreciation for life. One of my favorite quotes was said by the entertainment and cultural icon Frank Sinatra, when he said “Confidence is king”.  This Forbes article by Travis Bradberry is a good summary of the characteristics that embody this attitude.  Continue reading →

Great Thought Leader: Jiddu Krishnamurti

One of the best things about University in particularly the study of Liberal Arts is the emphasis on critical thought and debate. One of the most unique speakers I have ever been exposed to is Jiddu Krishnamurti, an incredible mind with provoking perspectives in relation to the study of human understanding of “the self” and concepts within religious theory, thought and reality.  Enjoy. 

j-krishnamurtiJiddu Krishnamurti /ˈdʒɪduː ˌkrɪʃnəˈmɜrti/ (12 May 1895 – 17 February 1986) was an Indian speaker and writer on philosophical and spiritual subjects. In his early life he was groomed to be the new World Teacher but later rejected this mantle and disbanded the organisation behind it. His subject matter included psychological revolution, the nature of mind, meditation, inquiry, human relationships, and bringing about radical change in society. He constantly stressed the need for a revolution in the psyche of every human being and emphasized that such revolution cannot be brought about by any external entity, be it religious, political, or social.

Krishnamurti was born in British India and in early adolescence, he had a chance encounter with prominent occultist and theosophist Charles Webster Leadbeater in the grounds of the Theosophical Society headquarters at Adyar in Madras. He was subsequently raised under the tutelage of Annie Besant and Leadbeater, leaders of the Society at the time, who believed him to be a “vehicle” for an expected World Teacher. As a young man, he disavowed this idea and dissolved the Order of the Star in the East, an organisation that had been established to support it. Continue reading →