What we focus on expands. If we look for the problems in the world, we will see a world of problems.
One of the main-stays of libertarian philosophy is the approval of self-interest. It’s a guiding principle of sorts. Not all of us are disciples of Ayn Rand of course, and I include myself there, but Rand’s rational egoism theory goes as far as saying that it is both irrational and immoral to act against one’s self-interest. Personally, I don’t buy that, but I’ll write on that another time.
Even if we don’t go quite that far, it is certainly one of the unwritten tenets of libertarian thought that self-interest is acceptable. Valuing self-interest ought to give us a very positive and encouraging outlook on life. It should be the norm to praise each other for our contributions to the greater marketplace. But it just doesn’t feel that way to me. To me it feels like everything I do is judged by my libertarian peers with overriding cynicism.
Cynicism is killing our r3VOLution.
I joined the Liberty Movement in Jun of 2007. I swallowed the red pill by googling Ron Paul. As I began to learn the truth about a great many realities that most pay no attention to, I quickly became cynical. I allowed that cynicism to fester into negativity and it made me a horrible person. No one wanted to be my friend anymore, except all the other cynical Ron Paul followers. Birds of a feather…
It’s going to be pretty hard to every arrive at anything resembling a libertarian society when we’re a people dominated by cynicism. Cynicism is the dead sea. Nothing lives in cynicism.
I was so negative, so obnoxious. And I didn’t want to be like that anymore.
Then something wonderful happened by complete serendipity. In 2012 I was introduced to an American business icon. A serial entrepreneur, she had built a grand enterprise – a Billion dollar a year family business. Her coaching shone a light on my cynicism, and for the last 4 years I have been unlearning the negativity that the previous 6 had taught me.
I haven’t arrived. There is no destination. It’s a journey. It’s a very rewarding journey.
Cynicism comes mostly from the way we see ourselves. The way we view ourselves is the lens we view life through. We project the way we see ourselves onto others. We add massive value to our own lives when we pursue self-awareness and personal growth, because quite honestly, just between you and I, you’re amazing!
Is there a time to be cynical? Sure. When you get that email promising you $6,000,000, be cynical. But I don’t want to go much beyond that, because I’d rather be wrong about people and learn later that they suck, than believe that everyone’s out to take advantage of others. I’ve lived too much of my life with that mindset. It didn’t serve me.
Choosing to see life through a different lens is just that, a choice. We choose to be hopeful, or cynical. As you choose positivity over cynicism, it gradually changes the way we view our world, and like magic the world actually does become a better place.
You catch a lot more flies with honey than vinegar.
People love to be around those that make them feel good, about themselves and their world. They don’t like to be around a cynic that’s always casting doubt, and negativity at everything. It’s super draining.
My libertarian brothers and sisters, I reach out my hand to you right now and I invite you to partner with me in making the libertarian universe a much more positive, uplifting, inspiring movement. We are the torchbearers of the message of peace and freedom. We want the world to learn about our philosophy.
What we focus on expands. If we look for the good in the world, we will see a world of good.
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