SUNDAY SLOWDOWN | Infinite Optimism
“To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work. Attention is the beginning of devotion.”
- Mary Oliver
The ancient Greeks are responsible for the root of many of the words we use today. They gave us a lineage of language, but they also created a framework of philosophy, where words go beyond language and become a foundation for a way of living. I recently came across a Greek saying, “the infinite moment. ” It's when time stops and meaning rushes in. It's what James Joyce might have imagined when he wrote in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, “divinely superfluous beauty.” You know those moments, when you see something that makes you take a pause in awe.
I've been thinking about how this idea, or philosophy, can apply to how we act, or more specifically, how we react, especially in moments of tension.
I'm calling it “infinite optimism.”
With too much sentimentality, it could feel pollyanna. With too much hope, it could feel like an unattainable ideal. The kind of infinite optisimism I am talking about is that moment when you could go down the path of cynicism, criticism, or another level negativity, but you choose instead to act with compassion. Or care. It's when things aren't going your way, or feeling right, and you make a decision to see it through to the other side. It's about fluidity, maturity and staying grounded, even when you feel unsteady. Infinite optimism isn't a feeling. It's a deliberate consideration. It's a conscious choice. It's a daily devotional practice.
This kind of optimism isn't easy. It's not passive or overly positive. It's not something you magically manifest. It takes grit and commitment. To see things through, not just to believe it will, but to take actions that reflect that mindset. It may mean a bit more sweat equity, both mentally and physically. To show up despite not wanting to go. To stay when you want to run or give up. To do the work that needs to be done. To see your way through, or lead others, even when the path is not immediately clear.
I used to be much more of a perfectionist, but it came at a cost. I could be relentless to the point of overriding my joy in the process, or allowing myself to enjoy the experience. I still believe in beauty and strive for that experience everyday, but now, my expectations are tempered with age. And experience. It's a fluidity that is also a knowing. If I put in the effort, it will work itself out. Maybe not as I had originally imagined, but in the end, it will be good enough. And sometimes good enough is enough. But I rarely start or end there. I am always striving for excellence, no matter the actual outcome. I've also come to know that sincere effort is never wasted. Infinite optimism often means going beyond what feels comfortable, what is expected, to realize what your imagination can dream up. When you know you have given everything you've got and allow yourself to enjoy the process. To go with the flow. It's getting yourself in alignment so that you can step into whatever you need to do, or to be, despite the discomfort, and do it with integrity. This is where the true joy lives.
I aspire to practice optimism the same way I make art or prepare a meal. With intention, with devotion, and a willingness to stay with what's unfolding. Even and especially when it's imperfect. What if we could live from that space more often? To bring that same presence and awe to the everyday. Infinite optimism may not be easy, but it can be joyful. This is where the true beauty lives.
X Alisa
Photo credit unknown