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ENLARGE
What is it that we in Summit County share? Well, yes, a love of the outdoors. And yes, an obscene amount of fleece. What else? Optimism. We believe that the sun will come out tomorrow, that there will be fresh powder and no lift lines, that we will find a job that pays the bills, that couch surfing will not result in fistfights, and that Mr./Ms. Right is in the grocery line or at the nearest bar. According to Barbara Ehrenreich, we are wrong, wrong, wrong.
In her latest book, “Bright-sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America,” Ehrenreich asserts that while a positive attitude may seem like a sure-fire path to happiness, we are suffering from a mass delusion that is counter-productive, if not downright disaster.
Take, for example, the idea that we live in the best country in the world, with the best political system and military readiness, the best resources and the best citizens. We do.
Unfortunately, this satisfaction has led to complacency, lack of preparation and an unwillingness to deal with the not-so-rosy scenarios staring us in the face. 9/11: we had clues galore, but “no ability or inclination to imagine the worst.” Iraq: our troops would be greeted with cheering and flowers. Katrina: years of warnings ignored and budgets cut. Our financial meltdown and economic crisis should not have been a surprise. Our relentlessly positive outlook gets in the way of common sense, and we all pay the price.
What about a breast cancer diagnosis? As if that news were not devastating enough, patients are often told that they brought it upon themselves by living a negative or stressful life and that surgery, radiation and chemo aside, their best chance of survival is a positive outlook. Are you kidding? You die if you're not perky enough? This takes blaming the victim to new and baffling heights. Certainly there is cause and effect between lifestyle and health, and a positive attitude may indeed bolster the immune system, but switching the onus from doctor to patient is wildly inappropriate. This chapter devolves into a rant, but as a survivor of the system, I think the author is allowed.
How about that multi-billion dollar motivational business? Mega-churches assure you that God wants you to be wealthy and your team to win; you just need to believe. Life coaches assure you that you can be successful; you just need to “visualize.” Dating services will find your mate, psychologists your peace of mind. New Agers: get out those crystals. But isn't positive thinking good, you ask? Absolutely, if you are making informed decisions. We practice “defensive pessimism” every day. We stop at red lights and watch our cholesterol. We want our pilots to know how to land the plane when the engine dies, and the ER docs to have the paddles ready. In the same way that we protect our children from exploring light sockets and eating paint chips, we need to be vigilant with our own lives and our own trust. We cannot continue “to see the glass half full, even when it lies shattered on the floor.”
Read “Bright-Sided.” While you are at it, check out “Nickel and Dimed” and “Bait and Switch,” Ehrenreich's undercover forays into the job market. They are well researched and well written. They are stuffed with enough anecdotes to hold your interest. They will spark some debate. Remember — keep your sunny side up.
In her latest book, “Bright-sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America,” Ehrenreich asserts that while a positive attitude may seem like a sure-fire path to happiness, we are suffering from a mass delusion that is counter-productive, if not downright disaster.
Take, for example, the idea that we live in the best country in the world, with the best political system and military readiness, the best resources and the best citizens. We do.
Unfortunately, this satisfaction has led to complacency, lack of preparation and an unwillingness to deal with the not-so-rosy scenarios staring us in the face. 9/11: we had clues galore, but “no ability or inclination to imagine the worst.” Iraq: our troops would be greeted with cheering and flowers. Katrina: years of warnings ignored and budgets cut. Our financial meltdown and economic crisis should not have been a surprise. Our relentlessly positive outlook gets in the way of common sense, and we all pay the price.
What about a breast cancer diagnosis? As if that news were not devastating enough, patients are often told that they brought it upon themselves by living a negative or stressful life and that surgery, radiation and chemo aside, their best chance of survival is a positive outlook. Are you kidding? You die if you're not perky enough? This takes blaming the victim to new and baffling heights. Certainly there is cause and effect between lifestyle and health, and a positive attitude may indeed bolster the immune system, but switching the onus from doctor to patient is wildly inappropriate. This chapter devolves into a rant, but as a survivor of the system, I think the author is allowed.
How about that multi-billion dollar motivational business? Mega-churches assure you that God wants you to be wealthy and your team to win; you just need to believe. Life coaches assure you that you can be successful; you just need to “visualize.” Dating services will find your mate, psychologists your peace of mind. New Agers: get out those crystals. But isn't positive thinking good, you ask? Absolutely, if you are making informed decisions. We practice “defensive pessimism” every day. We stop at red lights and watch our cholesterol. We want our pilots to know how to land the plane when the engine dies, and the ER docs to have the paddles ready. In the same way that we protect our children from exploring light sockets and eating paint chips, we need to be vigilant with our own lives and our own trust. We cannot continue “to see the glass half full, even when it lies shattered on the floor.”
Read “Bright-Sided.” While you are at it, check out “Nickel and Dimed” and “Bait and Switch,” Ehrenreich's undercover forays into the job market. They are well researched and well written. They are stuffed with enough anecdotes to hold your interest. They will spark some debate. Remember — keep your sunny side up.
