The Myth of the Silver Lining
Posted on | April 14, 2010 | 11 Comments
I am an optimist. Many people say that what an optimist does is always “finding the silver lining in every cloud”, to find something good in every situation, no matter how dire. This has also been called Pollyanna
And that’s the crux of the matter: Blindly optimistic.
I think being blind about anything becomes denying or resisting what is, and resisting what is, as the philosopher said, is the quickest way to unhappiness. Rather than finding the silver lining in everything, I prefer to think of it as finding the opportunity. To do this, we must first acknowledge and tell the truth about what is. Then we can go about finding and exploiting the opportunity. (And there always is one. No matter how hard it is to find.)
This is called solving problems. Solving problems is what makes life interesting. It makes life worthwhile. With no problems to solve, we would be bored out of our heads and not make much of a mark on the planet.
The people we most admire are the people who found big problems and set out to solve them, to greater or lesser degrees of success. Dr. King saw the problem of prejudice and segregation in the South and set out to solve it. Gandhi saw the problems of violence and imperialism in India and set out to solve them. Richard Branson saw the problem of poverty and hunger in Africa and has set out to solve them. The problem must be acknowledged before a solution can be sought.
If all we look for is the silver lining, we’ll miss the opportunity.
To bring this all back to the creative process, to the process of writing: As writers, our work is often a reaction to a problem we have witnessed or experienced personally. As writers, our characters must have problems to solve or no one will care. It has been said that drama is conflict. This is also true of comedy, by the way. When a character is presented with a problem, a dilemma, the journey that sends them on is what excites us to write and what excites our readers to read. Even Pollyanna had problems to solve. She saw other people’s problems and help solve them. And if she had never had her crisis of faith, her own self doubt (her own Gethsemane, to put too much meaning into a children’s story) the story would never have become the classic that it did.
~Geoff Hoff
Co-author of the how-to guide On Writing a Short Story.
| Sign up to get updates from Geoff and Steve and get the eBook, “Unleash Your Creative Writer” free. |
(@conniegreen #blog30 a5)
Comments
11 Responses to “The Myth of the Silver Lining”
Leave a Reply
Keep Up with Geoff and Steve
And just for doing so, we'll give you our eBook, "Unleash Your Creative Writer", a $9.95 value FREE!
"Not just for writers, invaluable information for any artist."
Geoff was Featured Blogger!
– Advertisements –
 |
|
|
|
Join Us in our New Forum!
Learn Creative Writing
--==**==--
Who are these guys?
Law of Attraction Words
Search the Site
Recent Comments
- What’s In Your Plan? – Make Money by Marketing Your Online Business With Powerful Web Marketing Strategies! on I Resolve to Continue
- Marilyn Southmayd on Interview with Terrie Wurzbacher about Creativity
- Adam DeTroy on Post 21 – Daydream Yourself into Your Work
- Geoff on Do Marketing and Art Go Together?
- Kathy on Do Marketing and Art Go Together?
Tags
April 14th, 2010 @ 1:47 pm
That is an interesting and convincing viewpoint that you have there. I tend to immediately look for the good in any situation, but you’ve refined that for me…
I’ll still probably do that, but now, I’ll also look for that opportunity! (And my video of Pollyanna… Believe it or not, I don’t recall ever seeing the entire movie…)
Thanks again!
April 14th, 2010 @ 1:54 pm
Mike, Pollyanna is typical Disney sugar candy, but it’s fun. And, when I was a child, made me cry. Even then I was a softy.
Thanks for your comments!
Geoff
April 14th, 2010 @ 3:57 pm
I have been called a Pollyanna more times then I can count and my favorite place on the whole planet (and I have traveled the world) is Disney World! I wonder if that is connected, heehee? l can’t help but to see the good in everything and I like it that way. Even things that look gray and foggy have a bright side. But, I hope I don’t look so hard for the bright side that I miss the opportunities that you talk about, great opportunities! I am glad you pointed this out so I can be more present to the ideas you bring up and see where I am on that line. My guess is that I am fairly planted in the middle. After all, what entrepreneur doesn’t look for an opportunity in every situation? You really got me thinking! Thanks Geoff!! See you at the finish line for #blog30
xox
Helen
.-= Helen Raptoplous´s last blog ..Welcome!! =-.
April 14th, 2010 @ 4:57 pm
Helen, I’m glad I got you thinking. I also suspect you are planed firmly in the middle, able to see the good in everything, but also able to see what is wanted and needed so you can provide that.
And from what little I know of you, I know you are one to jump at any good opportunity that comes your way.
Geoff
April 14th, 2010 @ 8:39 pm
Hey,
Interesting post. As a writer, I love Mondays because they offer me another work week full of interesting “opportunities” so I really don’t seem to have many “problems.”
Nice to find you through the 30 day blog challenge. Thanks for dropping by http://www.workingwriterscoach earlier and leaving a comment.
.-= Suzanne Lieurance´s last blog ..Why Don’t You Have the Writing Career You Want? =-.
April 14th, 2010 @ 8:43 pm
Suzanne – you’re very welcome. If there were nothing else of benefit from #blog30 (and there is a lot else), meeting so many interesting, creative people would be sufficient.
Geoff
April 14th, 2010 @ 10:49 pm
So, just curious. Are you familiar with the work of Robert Fritz and his books The Path of Least Resistance and Creating? He takes a different approach to “problem-solving.” Instead, he suggests a process to consciously create the results you want. I’ve always been more inclined toward the “create” model than the “problem solving” model. Wearing the “opportunity” glasses when looking at the problem makes it work better for me.
And I totally agree with you about the benefits of #blog30 !
.-= Bobbye Middendorf´s last blog ..When Synergies Happen– Blog Challenge Day 5 =-.
April 14th, 2010 @ 11:11 pm
Hi Geooff I love how you were able to weave this post from yesterday’s post. Great job. As for the myth of the silver lining–well I believe that there is a silver lining in each situation. Our beliefs determine our outcome so I always find something to be grateful for in any situation. I rather enjoy living my life with this belief.
Looking forward to continuing this conversation and to see where it goes tomorrow.
Annie
#blog30
.-= annieblawrence´s last blog ..Is Your Love Relationship Creating Unity? =-.
April 15th, 2010 @ 12:07 am
Annie – yes, our conversation of yesterday was the inspiration for today’s post. Thank you. And thank you for posting here. I love the conversation. The second post I made for Connie’s last challenge was about how much I love the conversation – http://www.tipsonwriting.net/blog/2009/12/day-2-why-we-like-to-be-in-communication-with-our-readers/ – so I am thrilled that you are right here with me.
I also appreciate it that you are willing to disagree with me, but do it kindly. And we don’t really disagree, as I’m sure you can see. I do absolutely see your point, and in another context might actually espouse it myself, but I am committed to looking at things in different ways to find more power in them, so I have become a bit of a contrarian. (I hope an enlightened one, but if not, so be it.) I also, as a teacher, like to assist other people in examining their own closely held beliefs, not to dash the beliefs, but to allow them the responsibility for them.
Thanks for your post!
April 15th, 2010 @ 12:15 am
Bobbye – no, I’ve never heard of Robert Fritz or his work, but it seems fascinating. We are all explorers, here, and, although I write, sometimes, with conviction, it is the question I hold fast to. When I remember to…
And when you say, “Wearing the “opportunity” glasses when looking at the problem makes it work better for me,” that is almost exactly what I’m talking about, so, like Annie, we are using a slightly different vocabulary to say much the same thing.
Geoff
April 15th, 2010 @ 3:52 am
Hi Geoff,
Lovely to connect with you through Connie’s challenge.
I am often called too happy, too positive or too optimistic and I do look for the silver lining but I think, like Helen, I am never one to miss the gift or opportunity.
I notice that I will often keep looking for the opportunity long after others have given up or given in. And I’m rewarded for going that little bit further and believing there is more.
I love Bobbye’s opportunity glasses. What a great image.
Looking forward to connecting some more.
Love & best wishes
Heather x
.-= Heather Bestel´s last blog ..Building Online Relationships =-.