Comments on: How You Can Defeat Cynicism and Become a Positive Thinker http://www.thedailymind.com/how-to/how-you-can-defeat-cynicism-and-become-a-positive-thinker/ Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:29:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: The Daily Minder http://www.thedailymind.com/how-to/how-you-can-defeat-cynicism-and-become-a-positive-thinker/comment-page-1/#comment-23439 The Daily Minder Tue, 01 Dec 2009 07:44:52 +0000 http://thedailymind.com/?p=620#comment-23439 Excellent point Austin. Thanks for pointing that out. Excellent point Austin. Thanks for pointing that out.

]]> By: Austin http://www.thedailymind.com/how-to/how-you-can-defeat-cynicism-and-become-a-positive-thinker/comment-page-1/#comment-23438 Austin Tue, 01 Dec 2009 05:38:47 +0000 http://thedailymind.com/?p=620#comment-23438 I am most definitely a cynic. I really enjoyed this article; thank you for posting it. It gave me a lot of good perspective and insight to ponder on. One thing that I did not agree with, however, was when you referred to generalizing people from the middle east as terrorists.. I would not call that cynicism, that is racism. Those two terms should not be associated with one another. In fact, racism is a main source of my cynicism toward people. With that being said, I will reiterate, great article. -Austin I am most definitely a cynic. I really enjoyed this article; thank you for posting it. It gave me a lot of good perspective and insight to ponder on. One thing that I did not agree with, however, was when you referred to generalizing people from the middle east as terrorists.. I would not call that cynicism, that is racism. Those two terms should not be associated with one another. In fact, racism is a main source of my cynicism toward people. With that being said, I will reiterate, great article.

-Austin

]]> By: Said Ebbini http://www.thedailymind.com/how-to/how-you-can-defeat-cynicism-and-become-a-positive-thinker/comment-page-1/#comment-23243 Said Ebbini Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:50:17 +0000 http://thedailymind.com/?p=620#comment-23243 From a true cynic. Why am I a cynic? Because I read history books! The history books of the future won't change their content, just the names. From a true cynic. Why am I a cynic? Because I read history books! The history books of the future won’t change their content, just the names.

]]> By: Dealing With Your Cynical Self — Persuasive Communication and Life Skills http://www.thedailymind.com/how-to/how-you-can-defeat-cynicism-and-become-a-positive-thinker/comment-page-1/#comment-11092 Dealing With Your Cynical Self — Persuasive Communication and Life Skills Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:01:24 +0000 http://thedailymind.com/?p=620#comment-11092 [...] few days ago, I found an interesting article on the internets.  It’s titled ’How You Can Defeat Cynicism And Become A Positive Thinker’.   The title of the article offers two assumptions.   First, that you want to [...] [...] few days ago, I found an interesting article on the internets.  It’s titled ’How You Can Defeat Cynicism And Become A Positive Thinker’.   The title of the article offers two assumptions.   First, that you want to [...]

]]> By: Dr. K http://www.thedailymind.com/how-to/how-you-can-defeat-cynicism-and-become-a-positive-thinker/comment-page-1/#comment-10683 Dr. K Sat, 21 Mar 2009 18:19:40 +0000 http://thedailymind.com/?p=620#comment-10683 Cynicism is not an inherently bad trait, nor is it necessarily a sign of negative thinking. The key is to contextualize it. There are times and places where distrusting the motives of others can serve one well. Three examples come to mind: 1) Online, children should be a bit cynical of the offers of friendship from total strangers. 2) Get rich quick schemes, which almost always turn out badly. 3) People claiming to know more about you and your life's purpose than you know about yourself (religious and cult leaders, etc.) It's the generalized cynicism that causes health problem and social isolation. Looking down on everyone around you is a sorry state for anyone. But then, any attitude that is overgeneralized, including positive thinking and seeing only the good in people, can cause all kinds of problems. Context is key. Identify the where and when for a behavior and use it there and then. Have a choice in behaviors and attitudes and a bit of flexibility, you can adapt to circumstances based on new information. Have only one choice or attitude, that kind of inflexibility can only lead to you backing yourself into a corner. be well, Rick Cynicism is not an inherently bad trait, nor is it necessarily a sign of negative thinking. The key is to contextualize it. There are times and places where distrusting the motives of others can serve one well. Three examples come to mind: 1) Online, children should be a bit cynical of the offers of friendship from total strangers. 2) Get rich quick schemes, which almost always turn out badly. 3) People claiming to know more about you and your life’s purpose than you know about yourself (religious and cult leaders, etc.)

It’s the generalized cynicism that causes health problem and social isolation. Looking down on everyone around you is a sorry state for anyone. But then, any attitude that is overgeneralized, including positive thinking and seeing only the good in people, can cause all kinds of problems.

Context is key. Identify the where and when for a behavior and use it there and then. Have a choice in behaviors and attitudes and a bit of flexibility, you can adapt to circumstances based on new information. Have only one choice or attitude, that kind of inflexibility can only lead to you backing yourself into a corner.

be well,
Rick

]]> By: ChasingSanity.com http://www.thedailymind.com/how-to/how-you-can-defeat-cynicism-and-become-a-positive-thinker/comment-page-1/#comment-6356 ChasingSanity.com Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:50:26 +0000 http://thedailymind.com/?p=620#comment-6356 A belated response to your question as to whether cynicism is necessary in life. I suppose yes, in that if we didn't have cynicism we wouldn't have optimism. A belated response to your question as to whether cynicism is necessary in life. I suppose yes, in that if we didn’t have cynicism we wouldn’t have optimism.

]]> By: EscapeVelocity http://www.thedailymind.com/how-to/how-you-can-defeat-cynicism-and-become-a-positive-thinker/comment-page-1/#comment-6023 EscapeVelocity Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:50:30 +0000 http://thedailymind.com/?p=620#comment-6023 There are definitely environments where expressing enthusiasm will get you ridiculed. A blase, cynical attitude doesn't tell people what things they can push your buttons by criticizing, so it's safer if you hang out with people like that. There are definitely environments where expressing enthusiasm will get you ridiculed. A blase, cynical attitude doesn’t tell people what things they can push your buttons by criticizing, so it’s safer if you hang out with people like that.

]]> By: The Daily Minder http://www.thedailymind.com/how-to/how-you-can-defeat-cynicism-and-become-a-positive-thinker/comment-page-1/#comment-5930 The Daily Minder Sat, 10 Jan 2009 22:40:56 +0000 http://thedailymind.com/?p=620#comment-5930 Puerhan - your first paragraph made me happy - the more mindful you become the more you notice these flaws. Keep up the excellent work! TDM Puerhan – your first paragraph made me happy – the more mindful you become the more you notice these flaws. Keep up the excellent work!

TDM

]]> By: The Daily Minder http://www.thedailymind.com/how-to/how-you-can-defeat-cynicism-and-become-a-positive-thinker/comment-page-1/#comment-5929 The Daily Minder Sat, 10 Jan 2009 22:39:01 +0000 http://thedailymind.com/?p=620#comment-5929 True stuff. Do you think cynicism is necessary in life? True stuff. Do you think cynicism is necessary in life?

]]> By: The Daily Minder http://www.thedailymind.com/how-to/how-you-can-defeat-cynicism-and-become-a-positive-thinker/comment-page-1/#comment-5927 The Daily Minder Sat, 10 Jan 2009 22:37:46 +0000 http://thedailymind.com/?p=620#comment-5927 Nice story Marissa! I think you handled that situation perfectly and by the sounds of it you really helped that woman. Thanks for commenting. TDM Nice story Marissa! I think you handled that situation perfectly and by the sounds of it you really helped that woman.

Thanks for commenting.

TDM

]]>