I would absolutely define myself as an optimist, and I used to think that was a good thing, but now, I am not so sure. Angela Duckworth made Positive Psychology a thing at UPenn. We can get a master’s degree in Applied Positive Psychology, if we want. Don’t get me wrong, I like being an optimist, but lately, all the talk of “toxic positivity,” has made me rethink it just a bit. 

I now believe that unbridled positivity can benefit from a healthy dose of skepticism (not cynicism)—remember that a skeptic simply requires additional evidence or needs to be able to ask more questions, while a cynic comes from a place of innate distrust. Skepticism involves critical thinking and good judgment and that’s a good thing, isn’t it? If we called skepticism, “intellectual inquiry,” would it be more readily accepted? We would become discerning consumers of ideas rather than passive accepters.

How can we add a little dose of skepticism to our lives easily? We could challenge claims by asking for evidence. We could exercise doubt by looking below the surface rather than accepting ideas at face value. We could Play Devil’s Advocate. We could become a bias detector and look to identify messages that are intended to persuade rather than inform. All would help us be a positive skeptic, and positive skepticism helps develop our abilities to think critically which leads to better problem-solving, innovation, and creativity! 

Let’s GO! WE GOT THIS!
Beth