SECOND THOUGHTS: The trials and triumphs of being an idealist and optimist 

We live in interesting times. We are basically the burnt-out generation, and even before COVID-19, cynicism and pessimism were only continuing to rise. 

Yet amidst it all, I have been a subject of perplexity to people for my ironic contrarian attitude. 

I have frequently faced the accusation that I am a very idealistic and optimistic person. Actually, I shouldn’t even call it an accusation because I know it is true. I realized in ninth grade that I was an idealist and it would seem my idealism and optimism have only grown since high school.

Being an idealistic optimist has not exactly been without adversity and criticism. I have faced many who said my idealistic optimism is more so grand naivety. I have also been told I need to be more in reality.

On top of that, I must admit that the true struggle of my idealism and optimism is facing events nearly every day that confirm the world does not always work the way I idealize it to.  Nevertheless, I continue to hold to my idealism and optimism despite reality (or others telling me to be more in touch with reality) hitting me with reasons to be the opposite. 

This of course leads to the question of why I continue to hold such an attitude and mindset, to the point where it feels like a blind optimism or what others call a major naivety. 

Well, I think first and foremost, the attitude remains because of how far it has got me. Being idealistic in a world that demands you to think realistically has only forced me to remain idealistic because it forces me to learn and understand the world better, thereby thinking about just how far I can take my ideals. 

I have said before how a sense of purpose can be what motivates you and helps you see the bigger picture, and I owe a lot of my optimism to that. 

Being idealistic has helped me be someone who focuses on the bigger picture and see the end of the tunnel because I hold on to the idea I’m reaching in spite of the obstacles and adversity. When you are a college student who is still trying to find stability, you certainly must hold on to an ideal if you want to not let the adversity and crazy workload bring you down. 

It has solidified me as a lifelong learner who is always willing to find a way and understand the world. It is through understanding the world that we can begin to reach the things we dream of. 

Additionally, I have long believed in the idea of living by example. I am by no means a perfect individual, but if I can be an example for others through my actions and attitude, then that is enough for me.

Even my passion for journalism and writing came from a strong place of idealism with a desire to tell the truth and provide narratives that make sense of this crazy world, and I know I am not the only person whose passion for such things emerged from such idealistic reasoning. I was constantly told I need to think of a better career and that being a writer was not a real job. Yet here I am not only running this newspaper but also using my writing to bring in income. Additionally, the demand for writers seems to only be growing. So much for writing being an unrealistic career.  

The fact that I have managed to find an opportunity with an occupation people constantly doubted further shows that maybe I was not out of touch with reality, but those around me just had their own unrealistic limited thoughts.

We are living in a world in which many of our leaders are making mistakes and making us only feel there is no hope. Part of my optimism comes from my belief that when we lose hope, that is when they win and we lose.  

Much of what we do hinges on our attitude and how we approach it. The real truth is that the world is not easy to live in. Sometimes all you can have is the right attitude to get you through it. 

Holding onto my ideals while keeping a positive view is what helps me manage to get through my struggles. 

My idealism has also helped me in dealing with failure. Many have this idea that being idealistic means being a perfectionist, but for me, my idealism and seeing the bigger picture have helped me accept things that cannot be perfect. Instead, I keep in mind that everything I do and create is a chance to strive for the ideal I have in mind. To me, I have a lifetime to reach the ideals I strive for and I see perfection as being rooted in imperfection. Such is why I believe in practicing patience and why I have long believed in seeing the best in others. 

Our attitude affects those around us, whether it is our family or co-workers. Therefore, a big part of my optimism comes from a desire to not have a bad attitude that will spread to those around me and make things worse. 

I have had many tell me they are grateful for my optimism and it often cheers them up. For me, things like that further confirm my idealism is not a lost cause because I believe in the value of helping people. If I can even lift people up with something as simple as my attitude, then I know there is value in my attitude and beliefs. 

We live in interesting times, and I know I do not think like others and I do not expect people to see things like me. However, I have seen what comes from being both an optimist and idealist, and so for every trial we might endure when we take the idealistic route, I know there is a triumph that also rises from it all.