Why pessimism and cynicism stifle progress

I know, I know, you've probably come to hate it when I write pieces like this. But the fact that I still have to do this means that it's still a pervasive issue.

I came across this article yesterday, and it encapsulated all I've been saying for years now. This, in a nutshell, is pessimism:

The reason pessimists sound smart is that it’s hard to prove them definitively wrong. Pessimists are a moving target. If they predict that a technology will fail, and it succeeds, then there is always another reason why it won’t work. It might have solved one problem, but it won’t solve all of them. Or it might work for most people, but it won’t work for everyone. 

There are almost limitless opportunities to shift the goalposts. A pessimistic stance is a safe one. There is often little to lose.

Now, I—like the author of the linked piece—was an inveterate pessimist and cynic. Nothing would ever change, the world was doomed, humanity was a failed species which would soon extinguish itself. The only lessons history taught me—or the only lessons I cared to take to heart—were that the world was a vale of tears and nothing ever improved. Needless to say, I was a smash at parties.

And, I actually was. Most of my peers agreed that existence was a travail, to be endured, and nothing good would come out of it. I was in line with the cool kids.

When did I begin to change? Well, there was no Damascene moment. There was no flash of light with Christ telling me to get over myself. I do think my wife's example softened me; she was always optimistic when I was in the depths of my despair. Perhaps it was a result of aging, and no longer able to sustain the Angry Young Man trope and routine. Or, maybe, pessimism and cynicism simply became too exhausting. 

That's the thing: Pessimism takes work. Pessimism involves actively closing oneself off to life's possibilities. You miss out on a hell of a lot if you're categorically pessimistic. And I'm not talking about politics primarily. I'm talking about life. 

"Hey! She's checking you out! Why don't you go talk to her?"

"Why? Nothing will happen."

Pessimism stifles progress in all areas—politics, culture, one's personal life—because it blocks one from taking another road, a road which may be difficult, but leads to better things. Pessimism is an old, worn out, ratty sweatshirt. It's barely holding together, you wouldn't be seen dead wearing it outside, but you can't let go. So you remain indoors, shut off from the world, from the real of infinite possibilities. 

Pessimists and cynics have never moved this world forward. Not once. Pessimism posits a world which can't be saved, only endured. Pessimists and cynics are safely on the ground, waiting for the next shoe to drop.

Optimists? Well, that requires work as well. We can be wrong. Things may not work out the way we wanted them to. The difference is we look at failure as a learning opportunity, and not declare that this failure will define us for the rest of our lives. Failure is a passing, even necessary, thing. You grow from failure. And the next time, or the time after that, you'll succeed. And by succeeding, you'll make the world a better place in some fashion.

You can't make progress if you come from a place of thought where progress is an illusion, a cruel mirage. You can't marry; you can't win an election; you can't save the world. Pessimism and cynicism want to drag you down into the muck, face down, so that you can't see the stars. No thank you; I'll keep my optimism. I'll be having more fun.