Optimism: the power of a positive outlook

The astrophysicist Paul Choudhury wrote a book about optimism. In it, he not only talks about the concept, but also makes it very personal. This book is about his own journey, a journey in which he – almost by accident – became an optimist. Choudhury describes a key moment in his life: the evening his wife passed away.

He writes:  "After her death, I asked myself the question: is the world a kind or a peaceful place? More or less jokingly, I decided I would become an optimist. It was a pose. I knew: this is a terribly bad time for me, but I had to believe that better times were ahead."

What particularly strikes me about his words is that expression:  "I had to believe." It seems that many, when faced with difficult moments or an emptiness that cannot be filled by knowledge or science, feel a desire to  believe. Choudhury says he had to believe in better times to make the difficult period he was going through bearable.

And that is exactly what our Christian faith is based on. We also believe that better times are ahead, despite the misery and difficulties on this earth. Without Christ, we might only see hopeless times. But thanks to his suffering and sacrifice, we can have hope and trust. We can believe that after difficulties, better times will come.

Optimism and faith: a parallel

. After reading Choudhury's book, I increasingly reflect on the idea that Christians are by definition optimists. Why? Because we know that more is always possible than meets the eye. The author himself writes: 

Optimism is the strength to look for unexpected solutions to our problems. Maybe they exist, maybe not. But if you don't look, you rule them out in advance. Pessimists give up beforehand.

I fully agree with this. Optimism gives strength; it opens the door to possibilities and solutions. For me, that's also what faith does. My faith encourages me not to give up, to have trust in difficult moments, and to keep looking for solutions that may not be immediately visible.

Choudhury claims that solutions 'may or may not exist.' My reaction to that would be: why don't you even try  to believe? Because if someone is searching for answers, like himself, faith is a very powerful path to follow. The answers he seeks are there. And I don't just say that: I would immediately recommend two books to him where these answers can be found – the Bible and the Book of Mormon. These books overflow with hope, optimism, and strength for difficult times. But let me emphasize an important point: believing does not mean that all problems disappear like snow in the sun. What faith does offer is the strength to get through those problemsto get through.

Optimism is not avoiding problems

As Choudhury writes, optimism does not guarantee that you can avoid problems, but it does offer the best basis for learning to deal with what comes your way. This is, in my opinion, the core: freedom of choice. What do you choose? Do you choose to believe in better times, or do you give up in advance, like pessimists?

It also fascinates me how Choudhury, as a scientist, attracts a lot of attention. People apparently find it remarkable that a scientist is not only a realist but also an optimist. I recognize that. Faith is often viewed in the same way: people find it strange that something invisible can play such an important role. Yet his book shows that optimism is a strong alternative, a real possibility.

In his book, Choudhury also discusses the origin of optimism and refers to the mathematician and philosopher Gottfried Leibniz:

“Leibniz stated that, despite the suffering in the world, we still live in the best possible world. According to him, God chose the best world from all possible worlds. This global optimum does not necessarily mean that it is ideal for every person or situation, but in Leibniz's optimism, we do live in the best possible world.”

This idea strongly aligns with what we learn in the Book of Mormon. There we read that everything has an opposition: no good without evil, no joy without sorrow, no health without sickness. Although many may seek happiness without faith, I believe that true happiness finds its deepest form in faith. Whoever communicates with God, listens to him, understands his intentions, and follows his counsel, finds a path to eternal happiness. Even in difficult moments, that person knows they are on their way to a better, eternalperspective. That brings ultimate comfort and certainty.

Placing optimism in a Christian faith

I share Choudhury's view that optimism is incredibly powerful. But I would like to go a step further: place that optimism within the framework of a Christian faith. Suddenly it gains so much more depth and meaning. It not only offers a hopeful view of the future, but also certainty, direction, and the feeling that you are on the right path.

Happiness is knowing that you resonate with something that truly has meaning. It's knowing that you can keep going in difficult moments because better times are coming. And I want to share that optimism with as many people as possible. Is there anything else I can adjust?