Resisting Cynicism

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This idea has come up a lot in my life this week. I saw a clip of Rainn Wilson (Dwight from The Office) talking about it. How one of our biggest challenges is to resist becoming cynical, jaded, skeptical. Because it’s so easy, so natural to be allured by cynicism today. With all that’s going on, it’s understandable to start seeing the worst in everyone, everything. Because there is a lot of bad happening.

I think it resonated so deeply with me because I’ve been experiencing this cynicism myself. Not constantly. But in pockets. Thinking negative things about people because of my own insecurities. Suggesting they are acting inauthentically, servicing the self. And it takes having these conversations to realize the flaw in our line of thinking. It takes a good friend to say, ‘wait a second,’ for us to reflect. My brother is very good at doing this for me. And while it can be an uncomfortable conversation, I’m grateful to him for doing it.

To resist cynicism we need to revert back to why we started doing anything at all. When we were children, we only did things that brought joy to ourselves and others. We sought out play in every given moment. So we need to get back to that. Doing what we’re doing, not for any external validation or rewards, but out of the pure joy we get from doing it. I think that’s how we break free from cynicism. I hope so. As Irish people, we’re known for being able to enjoy ourselves. And I think, sometimes – most of the time – we don’t understand the power of that.

Because if you can find joy even on your darkest days, then the jaded and cynical world will not be able to hold your heart.

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