Cultivate hope by believing that positive change is possible through your actions, rather than succumbing to passive optimism or cynical hopelessness. Combine this with skepticism, testing your assumptions about people to uncover their inherent goodness, which is often underestimated due to negativity bias.
Understand that cynicism is a ‘disease of social health’ that leads to personal unhappiness, physical illness, damaged relationships, and societal stagnation. It also creates self-fulfilling prophecies where mistrust brings out the worst in others.
Dispel the common misconceptions that cynicism is smart, keeps you safe, or is moral. Recognize that cynicism actually hinders cognitive performance, isolates you from positive connections, and prevents collective action against societal problems.
When uncharitable thoughts about people arise, pause and critically examine the evidence supporting them, treating them as scientific hypotheses. This practice, drawn from cognitive behavioral therapy, helps challenge and reduce your own cynical feelings.
Understand your influential power over others, recognizing that treating people with trust encourages them to act more trustworthy, while mistrust can elicit selfish behavior. Wield this power responsibly by treating others as you wish to be treated, fostering virtuous cycles.
Intentionally take calculated risks by trusting others in situations where you’d normally be guarded, such as delegating a challenging task or opening up about a personal struggle. This provides real-world data to update cynical beliefs, strengthens relationships, and fosters a more connected life.
Actively look for and share positive examples of people’s actions with others, especially children, to counter cynical narratives and train your own mind to notice more goodness in the world. This ‘positive gossip’ helps both you and others plug into a more positive view of humanity.