Saturday, June 1, 2013

Positive, not polyanna

Can you stay positive without being naive?

Business Insider has a set of charts meant to restore your faith in humanity. A lot of the data is US-focused, and there are points where you can find clouds in the silver linings. But overall the data BI highlights is credible evidence of things getting better for lots of people.

We all know there are awful things in the world. There is too much suffering, too much cruelty, too much sorrow.

But naivete cuts both ways. Focusing on the negative and staying blind to the positive is just as naive as doing the opposite. Only by noticing where -- and how -- things are getting better can we apply the lessons and do our part.

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