One of the most cherished aspects of childhood is that all too brief period of innocence when we still had a clear sense of our potential.
Unfortunately, the world has a way of beating that optimism out of just about everyone.
As we make our way through life, we encounter people and institutions that deliberately teach us to see ourselves as less than we really are.
The mental shackles we carry through life are placed on us starting at a very early age.
Many of the systems that seek to rule us actively train us to see ourselves as not-so-bright children who must always seek permission from those in authority over us.
We’ve been made to believe so by the people and systems who profit from our learned helplessness.
No wonder we grow up learning to doubt ourselves.
How can we restore our sense of goodness and potential?
Paul Rosenberg recommends the following:
* Think of a moment from your childhood when someone was notably kind or loving toward you.
* Now remember a time when you stood up for someone else who was being unfairly insulted or abused.
* Call to mind a moment when you did the right thing, even though it was hard to do.
Now take a few moments to recall the details and how these things made you feel.
This simple exercise can help us realize that we’re not as broken or helpless as we’ve been made to feel.
Restoring Our Sense of Optimism