It’s natural to feel angry and frustrated when there is so much division and our normal sense of life has been disrupted. And why not? That’s what everyone else is doing. It’s also easy to let yourself slip into a cynical attitude about life.

A cynic is a person who assumes the worst about everyone. They believe everyone acts out of self-interest, and any appearance of good behavior or generosity is just a ploy for someone to get what they want.

Lots of entertainment is based on this notion of human behavior. For example, the most popular sitcom of all time, Seinfeld, was based on a pessimistic view of human nature. In fact, the mantra of the show was that no characters would ever grow or learn anything.

That’s fun to watch on TV, but it doesn’t work in real life. You can’t be a positive influence in someone’s life if you only believe the worst about people.

The great author F. Scott Fitzgerald, said, “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function. One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise.”

It’s true, this is a dark time in history where we have a few more crises than usual. But don’t give in to negative attitudes of everyone around you. This period we’re in right now may seem hopeless. But as writers and creators, we are part of the solution. We must not be part of the problem.

The pessimists and cynics may have their moment. But in the end, cynics don’t change the world. Hope always wins, every time.

Question: Would you describe yourself as a person of hope or as a cynic? Why?

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This is especially true for creatives of all types, including writers. What you see out there in the world, and even more so within yourself, depends on the lens you’re looking through.

Another word for this “lens” is “perspective.” Over the next couple of weeks, I’m going to share a few perspectives on your writing, your career, and your creative life. You might call these “contrarian” perspectives because they go against the conventional wisdom we’ve all heard.

I hope these will help you stay healthy and productive in your writing life. Let’s dive into today’s perspective.

One of the downsides of social media is that everyone can see what we do. Oftentimes, there is immediate judgment when someone goofs up or makes a mistake. Therefore, we’re all hyper-aware of doing something to make ourselves look foolish. We avoid risk and place a premium on appearances.

We have to move past this impulse and instead keep a beginner’s mindset. Life and technology are changing so fast there is no way to keep up with it. If you’re going to stay relevant, you have to be willing to experiment, learn, make mistakes, and grow.

I’m facing this now with doing short-form video on social media. I’m not very good at it, but I’m learning. I’m willing to practice in public and go for it with a beginner’s mindset.

How about you? What are you learning? Is it book marketing? Social media? Working on that first book? Getting started with public speaking or podcasting?

Whatever it is, just dive in and don’t worry about what everybody thinks. You’ll catch on quickly enough. In this ever-changing media and technological landscape, we’re honestly all beginners, all the time. But the prize will belong to those who are willing to adapt and change with the times.

Question: What are you learning right now? Do you have a beginner’s mindset in your writing and creative work?

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Writers are people who create things. We can literally create books, articles, speeches, podcasts, or stories out of thin air. It’s what we do.

Why, then, do so many writers look at the world in “glass half empty” sort of way? A writer can be the most creative person in the world when it comes to words, yet be the biggest pessimist you have ever seen.

If you see the world as a glass half empty, where something is always wrong, something is always missing, or someone is always keeping you from what you want, realize you can always fill the glass.

Expect good things. Know you can change reality. You can always fill the glass. You’re a writer, after all! Change is what you do. Use your words and your creativity to create the world as you want to see.

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