Cynicism

I read recently the following: “curiosity and astonishment become an antidote to the spiritual poison most corrosive to the world — cynicism, that supreme enemy of hope. At any stage of life, the refusal to succumb to cynicism is among our greatest triumphs of the spirit. It is certainly our mightiest force of courage and resistance to the cowardly denouncements of possibility that pock the countenance of humanity.”

I lived in DC, which may be the epicenter of cynicism. There it is a daily task to avoid succumbing to cynicism. Here are some tips:

• Identify the triggers. What are the things that make you think the worst of people, situations, or the world? Once you know your triggers, avoid them or develop coping mechanisms.
• Challenge negative thoughts. When you have a cynical thought, challenge it.
• Focus on the positive.
• Get involved. One of the best ways to overcome cynicism is to connect with others. Loneliness is cynicism’s fertilizer.

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About the author

Webb Hubbell is the former Associate Attorney General of The United States. His novels, When Men Betray, Ginger Snaps, A Game of Inches, The Eighteenth Green, and The East End are published by Beaufort Books and are available online or at your local bookstore. When Men Betray won one of the IndieFab awards for best novel in 2014. Ginger Snaps and The Eighteenth Green won the IPPY Awards Gold Medal for best suspense/thriller. His latest, “Light of Day” will be on the bookstands soon.