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Cynicism is a Form of Resistance – August 26, 2011 Awhile back, I mentioned to someone that I felt I was becoming increasing cynical – in light of the state of the world –  about my work, its value, and the point of it all. She responded that the word means bitter, distrustful, pessimistic, and contemptuous, and that she didn't experience me that way. I rethought my comment. Then I moved on, ever trying to become more positive, humble, trusting, and optimistic. As often happens when I put something unfinished on the shelf, it makes its presence known sometime later. In the past few days, in the pursuit of information entirely unrelated, I have discovered two other definitions of cynicism. One is the the Greek philosophical origin of Cynicism. That philosophy says the goal of life is happiness, which is to live simply, in agreement with Nature, and depends upon being self-sufficient and mastery of mental attitude. I found that interesting in light of my -thirty-five-year history with Natural Life Magazine, which deals with those very topics. That certainly does not seem like a negative, bitter, or contemptuous basis for work. Then I read this in the book Writing to Change the World by Mary Pipher: "Cynicism is a form of resistance, a walling  off of the possibilities for transformation. Scratch every cynic and you'll find a wounded idealist." And that was an aha moment for me, allowing me to see my feelings of frustration with the world and the tendencies of the people inhabiting it in a new light. From that, I can find new energy in my work, and cause to heal the wounds that threaten my idealism. Not bad for some random stumbling. Or was it random? Posted: 2011/08/26 12:34 PM Tweet