Optimism

Hello all, thanks so much for coming to this thread and for your potential participation! I am a newbie Listener here with 7 cups and look forward to getting to know other listeners and gaining more skills to become a better Listener. As I was studying today, I came across the IDG Dimensions and found the entire framework very intriguing.

I am intrigued with Optimism as a functional skill in Acting, or Driving Change, in the IDG framework. I agree wholeheartedly that optimism is a driver of hope and motivation for many of us. My curiosity is more geared towards: when, if ever, does optimism begin to look like toxic positivity or deluded positivity? Are there timeframes, intensities, or particular situations that may be more vulnerable to this transition than others?

In part, I believe that optimism itself implies the lack of inclusion of toxic or deluded positivity. There is a reason why we use certain terminology and why these two terms are separate, With this, it is so common to see the two become conflated in conversations and even in practice when surrounding mental health. I’d be very curious to hear if anybody else has any thoughts or perspectives on this as well!

Lastly, one more thanks for being a part of this team at 7 Cups and for engaging with my thread! We all learn better together and I look forward to continuing to do so.