A New Year’s Resolution of optimism could change how we feel about 2025 and could be energising. But for many people pessimism may be dominant for now as negativism around living in the UK has been so prominently promoted in the last 6 months, not least by the new Government. The media has not helped and social media which exacerbates or invents bad things can have undue influence. And Christmas and its aftermath are notorious for those with negative thinking to allow their downs to depress them more. If 2025 begins that way, a tone may be set which is hard to shift. For optimism to prevail, some change is required, including change in attitude. And change can bring confidence which feeds success, but sometimes confidence itself is needed to start the change. The New Year’s Resolution could make a difference if it is the right one: confidence, control, choice and change will ensure optimism.
And any change may need more than a rousing rendition of “always look on the bright side of life”, even though that could give a healthy boost.
EXTERNAL AND DISTANT INFLUENCES
Our optimism or pessimism can be seriously affected by external influences, to the extent we choose to allow them to do so. Take Government action. We may or may not like the decisions Government has made. Usually there will be something we don’t like whether we support the party in power or not. In the case of the current Government, its majority in Parliament is unassailable and so arguably it can do what it wants within legal limits, which could engender a sense of personal powerlessness. But it is worth remembering, when their “landslide victory” is vaunted, the low level of positive support they had. Only about 60% of the electorate actually cast a vote. Of those who voted, only 34% voted for Labour. And so, only 20% of the electorate were positive supporters. Notwithstanding Parliamentary seats held, the voices of the other 80% must not go unheeded and can be powerful if they are unhappy with Government decisions.
Some people say that the UK Government now in power is behaving in ways opposite to its promises, such as to support and encourage business. But we should remember the Prime Minister is sworn to make his priority economic growth, and he was elected on the back of promises of change for the better, a new honesty and dedication to service of all citizens, not just a single category of people. No growth has been achieved yet, but it is early days and perhaps decisions in 2025 will move in that direction. The sounds made about reforming planning laws to build houses are encouraging but the implementation to deliver the 300,000 houses a year remains and will remain unseen for some time.
In general, do not the majority of people in this country wish to be able to be economically successful, and reap the rewards of their work for themselves and their families, as well as contributing to the wider good. Little so far has promoted that: for example, the inheritance tax raids on savings of people who worked hard, saved, paid their own way throughout life and paid their taxes is disliked by many, especially so when the raid is used to fund extraordinary pay rises for 4 days a week workers on trains. But good things may yet come. The Prime Minister says he has made “the tough decisions” now, so that stability will enable growth and prosperity will follow. Is that naïve? What is sure is that there will be plenty of tough decisions to come, as that is the nature of government.
As the Government provides a framework for communities to live together and people to arrange their lives, we have to be concerned with its activities and react to them. However much the Government chooses to spread a message of misery, it is important to control consciously its effect on us, as our ability to influence major external events is important but only indirectly. As far as the external things done to us by Government or its policies are not acceptable to us, we should of course resist them through exercising our rights to say so, pressurise through MPs and elsewhere and persuade others. So too, the serious media operators, broadcasters, news papers and news agencies and purveyors should also exercise properly their freedom of opinion. And so, change may happen.
If this Government can change its approach and be true to its word, then that will inspire confidence so that people can succeed and bring the growth in wealth required. That confidence will bring outside talent and investment. But that integrity of actions reflecting words remains lacking for now. Further, if growth and confidence are to happen, the philosophy that the State can provide economic growth rather than just a framework must be rejected, because in reality it is the hard work of incentivised ambitious people that brings economic success.
HOW CAN GLOBAL CHANGE BRING OPTIMISM?
Wars, and even the threat of nuclear war, today cast a cloud over world sentiment. If Putin changes and withdraws his war machine from Ukraine, Europe will be uplifted. If Iran and its surrogate extremist terrorists withdraw from seeking the genocide of Israel and the leaders of Israel see peace not war as a more lasting option, the Gaza and Lebanon wars may cease and constructive progress can start. These events will enhance economic and existential confidence. If the new leaders of Syria truly embrace a nation of diversity, tolerance and democracy, the whole region will breathe a sigh of relief – after all the alternative is they revert to Islamist type, suck the departed population back in and create an Isis State sworn to world terrorism.
And if President Trump becomes a true peacemaker and behaves with sense and sensitivity, demonstrating a moral compass, making reasonable decisions, the world could be the better for it. To deal with him, as even those who despise him must, it is likely people will have to appeal to his negotiating streak, as after all he sees all things as negotiable, perhaps changing their natural inclination to denigrate him. And they will have to appeal to his narcissism and ensure that they do not portray him as a loser or make him think he is a loser as that he will not cope with.
And would it not be good if the leaders of China, the Chinese Communist Party, were to become a force for good in the world. All these changes would be a cause for optimism. While accepting the reality until things change, it is possible always to hope for change for the better. But again most of us can influence these in limited ways, and we should do so if we choose to, by expressing our commitments to freedom and care for others suffering around the world, and with acts of charity. However, should our main focus be where we can really make a difference?
HOW CAN I BE OPTIMISTIC?
Now is traditionally the time for a New Years Resolution: if we are downbeat about 2025 and even beyond, maybe the big resolution for change should be to be optimistic, focussing on what can be done and improved , not what cannot. And so, should we not focus attention on our sphere of influence, especially that which we can control, because in those areas it is down to us to change things, not anyone else?
In his book “the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, Stephen Covey explains his philosophy for living. It is thought provoking, whether or not one agrees with all or none of what he says. Picking a phrase or two “If I really want to improve my situation, I can work on the one thing over which I have control – myself”. “It is not what others do or even our own mistakes that hurt us most; it is our response to those things.” “We are responsible for our own effectiveness; for our happiness, and ultimately, I would say, for most of our circumstances.”
Perhaps therefore, one aid to turning from pessimism to optimism is to look at what causes pessimism. And then ask what options one has to make a change of some description to things in our sphere of control or influence to improve the position, assessing and appreciating our own resourcefulness. This may involve other people too and so a shared commitment to a change may make it easier. Applying this principle to home, work, relationships, budgets, the cost of living, how we spend our time, and daily problems may create a world with cause for optimism, especially if the changes work!
The simple realisation that everything we do or say is a matter of our own choice may mean that we finally reject the fatalism, and often negativism, that goes with phrases like “If only”, “I can’t”, “That’s how it is” and “There’s nothing I can do about that”.
Confidence, control, choice and change will fuel optimism.
