"Optimism – A Tonic for the Times"

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When I was in first grade, there was an air horn signal that the principal in my elementary school would periodically sound in the hallways for practice. When the classes heard the horn, we were to stop what we were doing, climb under our desks, and fold our arms on top of our head. This was the signal that we were under a nuclear attack from the Soviet Union. I doubt any of this would have been effective in the event of a real nuclear attack since my elementary school was five miles from the Pentagon.

All through my childhood and into my adulthood, Americans often lived in tense times. During the Cuban missile crisis in 1962 and during the Yom Kippur War between Israel and several Arab countries in 1973, the U.S. came dangerously close to a nuclear war. (1983 – Soviet satellite false alarm - Stanislav Petrov).

To say the least, people were paranoid in those years about the threat of nuclear war. President Kennedy went on TV urging people to build underground bunkers. Weekly or monthly air raid sirens sounded in many communities. Some of you may remember this.

And if this wasn’t enough, then came the civil unrest of the 1960s. These included protests, often violent protests against the war in Vietnam. There were race riots around the country and violent reactions to civil rights legislation.

There was also economic turmoil in the 1960s and 1970s from stagflation, inflation, and huge losses of American jobs in factories due to cheaper international competition.

On the political side, there was Watergate and the loss of faith in government among many Americans. There were surging crime rates in many American cities. Sky jacking of commercial airliners became common. Environmental disasters plagued many communities around the country.

In short, there were very good reasons to be paranoid and pessimistic in those years and many people were.

It is said that history repeats itself and to some extent it does – I think mostly because human beings have many faults which seem to repeat themselves through history.

It seems today we are in a new era of turmoil. The threat of nuclear war still exists. Putin and Russian officials over the past few years have been constantly threatening nuclear war over European and American support of Ukraine. They just did so again, this week. Many worry about a Chinese attack on Taiwan and the potential consequences. There are wars and conflicts around the world, many of which America is currently involved in, such as the war in Iran.

We see ICE agents treating immigrants and even American citizens with violence, hatred, inhumanity, and even murder. We see deep political divisions throughout American society which often leads to violence. Climate change is affecting communities everywhere and its denial by some officials prevents measures which might curtail it to some extent. We see an ever-widening gap between the rich and poor in America. There is job insecurity, particularly among young people. Inflation today is affecting Americans and for some, it is dragging them down to a point where they worry about their ability to pay even basic bills.

And last but hardly least is the threat of artificial intelligence. While AI promises to do many great things for humanity and it can, it also threatens our very survival. Just in the past few weeks, we are hearing from whistleblowers and even from the CEOs of AI companies that yes – AI does pose a potential danger to the very existence of human beings. Weapons are now being developed with AI – where weapons can target people without any human intervention. Just last week, AI hacked into Australia’s health care system and stole personal information on millions of Australian without any human knowledge this was happening. And, in another case, AI in one system was teaching AI in another system how to lie and prevent humans from knowing about it.

Then, of course, we have the constant twenty-four-hour news cycle on multiple platforms which deluge us with negative news.

So – are there good reasons for Americans and people around the world to be paranoid and pessimistic. I would say yes – but this is very harmful to individuals and to society at large. Pessimism can cause stress, sometimes overwhelming stress. It can impact relationships with other people, including loved ones. It can create conflicts among people and nations.

Throughout human history, there have been plenty of periods and instances where individuals and whole societies have had severe pessimism. Consider the Roman province of Judea during the time of Jesus. From roughly 1000 BCE to 720 BCE , or about three hundred years, the Jews had their own independent nation (Israel). It split into two nations around 900 BCE (Israel and Judah), but both nations were still Jewish and still independent. But after the Assyrian invasion in 720 BCE, right through the Roman occupation and down to the 20^th century, the Jewish lands were controlled by several more powerful nations: the Assyrians, then the Babylonians, then the Persians, then the Greeks, then the Romans and others until 1948.

It is not surprising then that the Jews were rather pessimistic during the time of Jesus. Their prophets all told the Jewish people they were suffering occupation because of their sins against their God – Yahweh. Then the Jews became apocalyptic. Prophets began preaching that God would destroy the world and judge human beings. This is the world Jesus was born into.

Many modern scholars suggest that Jesus was a devoted follower of John the Baptist who was a very apocalyptic preacher. Therefore, they say, Jesus thought the world would end very soon followed by a judgement day In the Gospels of Mark and Matthew, Jesus states the world will end “within the current generation.” Paul said the same thing in his letters to the Romans and to the Corinthians. I do think Jesus had a lot of other positive things to say, and he frequently called for loving your neighbor as yourself, but it seems clear he was also pessimistic about the future. So were Jews around the time of Jesus and early and later Christians too. Just take a look at the Book of Revelation which focuses on the apocalypse.

Throughout the course of human history in all cultures and peoples, just as today, there have been numerous events that threaten the very existence of people. In all cases, it has been natural for people to become pessimistic about their life and their future. If pessimism becomes dominant throughout a society, it can impact the health, happiness, and future of the society just as it can affect an individual.

While there are countless examples of this, let me offer just one. Just after World War I, the German people developed a severe pessimism. This was exacerbated by the unreasonable demands of the Treaty of Versailles where the allies imposed heavy punishments and monetary fines on the German people.

Despite this, at least for a time in the 1920s, the German economy improved and the democratic Weimar Republic flourished. Then came the depression and the complete collapse of the German economy. Pessimism reigned throughout Germany and the people’s pessimism caused them to believe that democracy had failed them. We all know the result – the rise of Nazism and the resulting war that killed tens of millions of people to say nothing of the heinous crimes that the Nazis perpetrated.

The point is that optimism is critical for an individual and it is critical for nations to face the future regardless of the challenges and negatively that may be everywhere present.

We all know negative and pessimistic people. These are people who constantly focus on the negative rather than acknowledging the positive in their life. Not only will this affect their health and happiness, it can also affect their future. The bottom line is pessimism will affect a person’s future and the opposite is true. Optimistic people can create a better future.

Consider the possibility of changing the future for the better. A pessimistic person will focus on all the reasons that a situation cannot be made better. They are averse to taking any kind of risk for fear of failure. As a result, they may miss out on potential opportunities. An optimistic person takes challenges head on, expecting that good things will come. When they fail, they don’t give up. They believe that eventually something good will happen. Optimists are able to dream about what is possible while pessimists find reasons for why things are not possible. People’s attitudes have a profound impact on creating their own reality.

History is full of examples of this. Just to name a few:

At the turn of the twentieth century, several prominent scientists and mathematicians produced papers declaring that human flight was not possible. Just a few years later, the Wright brothers proved them wrong. Similarly, several well-renowned scientists in the late 1950s stated that it was impossible to travel to the moon. Just a decade later Apollo 11 landed on the moon.

In 1889 Thomas Edison, who was usually an optimist, stated that AC power could never be distributed across a network to power homes. Nicola Tesla found a way to make it happen.

Martin Luther King dreamed of a time when black people would be treated like white people with mutual respect and civil rights legislation would become a reality. It did – even though there is much work still to be done.

In my Leadership classes at Nichols College, I speak of optimism. I tell my classes that leaders in all walks of life should be optimists. On the individual level, people who are not optimistic will have negative affect on a company or organization. Unfortunately, many leaders of companies and organizations are not optimists. They can and will drag a company or organization down. Just two examples:

Around the year 2000, Blockbuster executives met with Netflix. Needing a lot of cash to stay in business and grow, Netflix was seeking a buyout or partnership with Blockbuster. Netflix tried to sell the idea of mailing movie DVDs and developing a streaming service. The CEO pf Blockbuster laughed at the proposal and dismissed the idea as impossible. Look where Blockbuster is today.

In 1975, a Kodak engineer invented the digital camera. When he tried to propose to Kodal leadership that the company could take the lead in selling and further developing the camera, he too was laughed at. Kodak leadership told him people would never accept digital pictures over film prints and, besides, Kodak’s primary business was selling camera film.

Being optimistic is definitely related to health, happiness, and creativity. This is true on a personal level and on an organizational level.

What is also interesting is that optimism can also contribute to a healthy spirituality. This is not to say that a person who is generally pessimistic cannot be spiritual – but I contend it is more difficult than for an optimistic person. Some critics contend that Buddhism, for example is pessimistic and it can seem so with its focus on suffering as the primary human reality. But Buddhism ultimately offers hope and methods to escape human suffering so I wouldn’t call it pessimistic.

And some suggest that Christianity, particularly conservative Christianity is also pessimistic with its constant reminder of the temptations of the world and the potential fires of hell for sinners. But then again, Christianity also offers hope for a future of happiness and paradise.

Remember, there is a difference between religion and spirituality. In my definition, religion is about fixed beliefs, rituals, dogmas and creeds. Spirituality is a personal connection with “other” defined by the individual in many ways. Can religious people be spiritual? I think the answer is yes but in many cases religious people are not.

It is easier for an optimist to be spiritual because the optimist tends to have more hope for the future, more trust in the positive, and a greater sense of meaning and purpose in life. In my view, it is easier for an optimist to see and sense awe in the world around them, which can be a powerful antidote against pessimism. As one psychology article put it: “Optimism acts like a lens that filters for possibility, making it far easier to experience awe, which fundamentally shifts how we process negative emotions.”

A positive view of life, a predilection for optimism which is a hallmark of spirituality, can act as a strong deterrent against negativity and the challenges and sorrows of life. Optimistic people are more resilient and better able to cope with trials and tribulations. Optimism can also serve to give meaning and purpose to life despite hardships and loss. It can help a person find a sense of awe in the world around them and awe is a spiritual experience.

I do want to mention one caveat. While I do believe strongly in optimism, a dose of pessimism is also important. Believing good will always result in every situation isn’t particularly realistic, and it may prevent a person from taking appropriate actions which can help themselves and others.

But this said, people who are mostly optimistic are happier people. Think of someone you know who is always down, always talking about the negative and rarely finding the positive. Are they happier people than a person who always tries to look for the positive? I rather doubt it – at least this has not been my experience.

And by the way, it definitely seems that optimistic people enjoy better relationships with others, have an easier time making friends, and finding a partner to share the journey of life with. The opposite is true for people who are primarily pessimistic.

So, despite seeing all the negatives in our world today – and there are many, how is it possible to develop a more positive, more optimistic view of the world which will result in becoming a happier and healthier person – a situation so needed by many in the world today?

I think one way is to focus on the positive in your life. When negative thoughts enter your mind, acknowledge them but quickly think of three things that are very good in your life. Some people find it helpful to keep a journal and write down each day the positive things that have happened to them that day – however small. And maybe pick one positive thing in your life that brings you happiness and write that down – even if you repeat it.

Take stock of the world. Put your life in context. People are naturally selfish. This is a basic human instinct built into us for survival. People who always find fault, always see the negative in their life without acknowledging the context, are being selfish. When you sit down to a meal, give thanks that you have a meal when millions of people around the world are hungry. Give thanks that you have shelter when others do not. Give thanks that you have friends and family who love you when many people do not.

Try to spend more time with optimistic people. People who have a positive attitude on life exude that positivity and it can help make you more positive. The reverse is true. Negative people cause negativity in others.

Find things to do each day that make you happy and do them. Plan for something in the future that will make you happy. Think about it and take actions that will make it happen. Take a walk in nature. Find spaces and places that give you a sense of awe and wonder and what better place to do this than right here on Cape Cod.

If you find the daily news is dragging you into depression, don’t watch the news all the time. I think it is important to keep in touch with what is happening in the world but deluging yourself in negative news all the time definitely enhances pessimism. In fact, do the opposite. There are many websites on the internet that only focus on positive uplifting stories. Websites like “The Good New Network” which runs 24 X 7 with uplifting and positive stories and inspiring acts around the world. And the UK publication “Positive News” which is a quarterly publication.

And finally – realize that despite the divisions in America today, the political violence and corruption we see, realize that this is not a unique time in America. We have been through worse times before, and America has survived them and grown stronger. We will again. Have faith and trust in this, knowing that America is full of flawed humans but also full of generous, caring, and loving people.

In the final analysis, we all need a dose of optimism these days. Join in ways to make this happen.

As Walt Whitman said, "Keep your face always toward the sunshine—and shadows will fall behind you."

Reverend Christopher McMahon

October 4, 2026