Dale and Krzysztof welcome Sam Mowe, a writer and producer at Tricyle Magazine: The Buddhist Review, to discuss a timely and timeless topic: the balance between optimism and pessimism when facing an uncertain future.

Prompted by Sam’s questions about his own anxieties, especially given current environmental and political challenges, the conversation explores how pessimism and optimism shape our perspectives and actions.

Krzysztof introduces the idea of “negative capability,” inspired by the Romantic poet John Keats, suggesting the importance of staying with discomfort rather than rushing to resolve it. This idea resonates with Buddhist philosophy, where facing life’s difficulties head-on is viewed as integral to growth.

Dale expands on this idea by distinguishing between personal and global optimism or pessimism, noting how our inherited negativity bias—stemming from human evolution—often drives us to focus on challenges. The conversation then turns to the potential of “learned optimism,” a psychological technique for reshaping our mindset, which, as Dale explains, can help align our perceptions more accurately with reality.

The discussion also weaves perspectives from literature, philosophy, and evolutionary psychology. Krzysztof and Sam share how practices like jiu-jitsu and long-distance running provide a tangible way to embrace discomfort, pushing past limitations to foster resilience. This approach reflects Nietzsche’s idea of strength through adversity, a recurring theme in the conversation.

Politically, the upcoming election looms large, sparking dialogue on how deeply-held values can lead to fears about the future. While Krzysztof, Dale and Sam acknowledges the need for hope, they emphasize that optimism must be rooted in clear-eyed realism. Krzysztof reminds listeners that transformative societal shifts often occur unexpectedly, reinforcing the notion that history’s trajectory remains open.

In closing, the hosts agree to revisit these reflections post-election, allowing time to assess how the results shape their perspectives on optimism, pessimism, and the way forward. This episode is a profound look at how to relate to an uncertain future—embracing both hope and grounded awareness.

Know anybody else who is tangled up in election day blues? Consider sending them this conversation should you see any value in it.