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Why this world needs pessimism | Darren MacIean | TEDxPearsonCollegeUWC


so are you an optimist do you expect

so are you an optimist do you expect that good things will happen are you at

that good things will happen are you at

that good things will happen are you at the last half-full kind of person the

the last half-full kind of person the

the last half-full kind of person the pressure to be positive has never been

pressure to be positive has never been

pressure to be positive has never been greater positive psychology has become a

greater positive psychology has become a

greater positive psychology has become a happy smiling juggernaut spawning

happy smiling juggernaut spawning

happy smiling juggernaut spawning billion dollar group sales and a

billion dollar group sales and a

billion dollar group sales and a lucrative coaching industry aimed at

lucrative coaching industry aimed at

lucrative coaching industry aimed at making the world more optimistic and

making the world more optimistic and

making the world more optimistic and it’s working major corporations no

it’s working major corporations no

it’s working major corporations no higher happiness experts the US Army

higher happiness experts the US Army

higher happiness experts the US Army currently trains its soldiers in

currently trains its soldiers in

currently trains its soldiers in positive thinking in the UK they teach

positive thinking in the UK they teach

positive thinking in the UK they teach optimism in schools and talk across the

optimism in schools and talk across the

optimism in schools and talk across the world government policy advisors however

world government policy advisors however

world government policy advisors however done talking about the happiness index

done talking about the happiness index

done talking about the happiness index as a rival to GDP the unquestioned view

as a rival to GDP the unquestioned view

as a rival to GDP the unquestioned view is that optimism is good pessimism is

is that optimism is good pessimism is

is that optimism is good pessimism is bad if you search amazon for roots or

bad if you search amazon for roots or

bad if you search amazon for roots or negative thinking almost all of them are

negative thinking almost all of them are

negative thinking almost all of them are negative assuming the pessimism is

negative assuming the pessimism is

negative assuming the pessimism is something to be cured of like a disease

something to be cured of like a disease

something to be cured of like a disease but whatever our assumptions of our

but whatever our assumptions of our

but whatever our assumptions of our optimism are wrong last week my daughter

optimism are wrong last week my daughter

optimism are wrong last week my daughter took this photograph in the forest near

took this photograph in the forest near

took this photograph in the forest near our home as you can see it’s beautiful

our home as you can see it’s beautiful

our home as you can see it’s beautiful at this time of the year the snow is

at this time of the year the snow is

at this time of the year the snow is crisp air is pure but should I be afraid

crisp air is pure but should I be afraid

crisp air is pure but should I be afraid that hiding somewhere in these woods

that hiding somewhere in these woods

that hiding somewhere in these woods is a dangerous bear woken early from

is a dangerous bear woken early from

is a dangerous bear woken early from hibernation or is this just a negative

hibernation or is this just a negative

hibernation or is this just a negative thought spoiling another one’s pleasant

thought spoiling another one’s pleasant

thought spoiling another one’s pleasant walk in the woods faced with this exact

walk in the woods faced with this exact

walk in the woods faced with this exact scenario our ancestors could meet one of

scenario our ancestors could meet one of

scenario our ancestors could meet one of two mistakes

two mistakes

two mistakes mistake number one they could think that

mistake number one they could think that

mistake number one they could think that there was a beer in the woods when

there was a beer in the woods when

there was a beer in the woods when actually the

actually the

actually the or mystique number two they could think

or mystique number two they could think

or mystique number two they could think of it there wasn’t a bearded once when

of it there wasn’t a bearded once when

of it there wasn’t a bearded once when actually there was one the cost of

actually there was one the cost of

actually there was one the cost of making the first mistake was needless

making the first mistake was needless

making the first mistake was needless anxiety endless hours of unnecessary

anxiety endless hours of unnecessary

anxiety endless hours of unnecessary stress the cost of making the second

stress the cost of making the second

stress the cost of making the second mistake was death this is why when you

mistake was death this is why when you

mistake was death this is why when you study history you never ever read of the

study history you never ever read of the

study history you never ever read of the tribal optimists they died being

tribal optimists they died being

tribal optimists they died being pessimistic expecting the worst was what

pessimistic expecting the worst was what

pessimistic expecting the worst was what gave our ancestors an edge they kept

gave our ancestors an edge they kept

gave our ancestors an edge they kept them alive and give them a 1% over their

them alive and give them a 1% over their

them alive and give them a 1% over their happy soon to be extinct friends we know

happy soon to be extinct friends we know

happy soon to be extinct friends we know that when we feel happy we get a kick of

that when we feel happy we get a kick of

that when we feel happy we get a kick of the brains happy drug oxytocin this is

the brains happy drug oxytocin this is

the brains happy drug oxytocin this is why feeling happy feels happy however

why feeling happy feels happy however

why feeling happy feels happy however studies have shown that the downside of

studies have shown that the downside of

studies have shown that the downside of oxytocin is that it reduces our ability

oxytocin is that it reduces our ability

oxytocin is that it reduces our ability to identify threads in 2011 the social

to identify threads in 2011 the social

to identify threads in 2011 the social psychologist Joseph poorgrass conducted

psychologist Joseph poorgrass conducted

psychologist Joseph poorgrass conducted an experiment at the University of New

an experiment at the University of New

an experiment at the University of New South Wales in which people were divided

South Wales in which people were divided

South Wales in which people were divided into two groups according to whether

into two groups according to whether

into two groups according to whether they were in a good mood or a bad mood

they were in a good mood or a bad mood

they were in a good mood or a bad mood whether their glass was half full or

whether their glass was half full or

whether their glass was half full or half empty they were then asked to judge

half empty they were then asked to judge

half empty they were then asked to judge the truth of certain elements such as

the truth of certain elements such as

the truth of certain elements such as two parallels cause cancer did the CIA

two parallels cause cancer did the CIA

two parallels cause cancer did the CIA murder Kennedy and they discovered that

murder Kennedy and they discovered that

murder Kennedy and they discovered that the happy people were far more gullible

the happy people were far more gullible

the happy people were far more gullible than their gloomy counterparts and that

than their gloomy counterparts and that

than their gloomy counterparts and that in contrast those unencumbered by

in contrast those unencumbered by

in contrast those unencumbered by happiness and optimism were far less

happiness and optimism were far less

happiness and optimism were far less likely to meet errors of judgment it

likely to meet errors of judgment it

likely to meet errors of judgment it seems that the happier and more

seems that the happier and more

seems that the happier and more optimistic are the less evil humor to

optimistic are the less evil humor to

optimistic are the less evil humor to identify threats to spot dangers and to

identify threats to spot dangers and to

identify threats to spot dangers and to pick up more falsehoods this is why when

pick up more falsehoods this is why when

pick up more falsehoods this is why when you Netflix and

you Netflix and

you Netflix and an innocent cuddle that makes you feel

an innocent cuddle that makes you feel

an innocent cuddle that makes you feel happy sometimes these to begin here that

happy sometimes these to begin here that

happy sometimes these to begin here that you major regret and a totally wasn’t

you major regret and a totally wasn’t

you major regret and a totally wasn’t your fault it was just the oxytocin if

your fault it was just the oxytocin if

your fault it was just the oxytocin if you were in a bad mood it would never

you were in a bad mood it would never

you were in a bad mood it would never have happened in 2006 two professors of

have happened in 2006 two professors of

have happened in 2006 two professors of Finance from Duke University Matthew

Finance from Duke University Matthew

Finance from Duke University Matthew Premium David Robertson studied to the

Premium David Robertson studied to the

Premium David Robertson studied to the financial choices of extreme optimists

they discovered that optimists are more

they discovered that optimists are more prone to reckless behavior than there

prone to reckless behavior than there

prone to reckless behavior than there has been more slightly more pessimistic

has been more slightly more pessimistic

has been more slightly more pessimistic friends they concluded that optimists

friends they concluded that optimists

friends they concluded that optimists work fewer hours save less money and are

work fewer hours save less money and are

work fewer hours save less money and are less likely to pay their credit cards

less likely to pay their credit cards

less likely to pay their credit cards and then they said check this out a

and then they said check this out a

and then they said check this out a little optimist of me beneficial but too

little optimist of me beneficial but too

little optimist of me beneficial but too much can lead to some really bad

much can lead to some really bad

much can lead to some really bad economic choices so here you have two I

economic choices so here you have two I

economic choices so here you have two I would imagine normally circumspect

would imagine normally circumspect

would imagine normally circumspect professors over let’s face it boring a

professors over let’s face it boring a

professors over let’s face it boring a subject like finance using some rather

subject like finance using some rather

subject like finance using some rather flowery vocabulary we’re noticing that

flowery vocabulary we’re noticing that

flowery vocabulary we’re noticing that optimism can lead to not just bad but

optimism can lead to not just bad but

optimism can lead to not just bad but really bad economic choices so should it

really bad economic choices so should it

really bad economic choices so should it concern us then that the happiness

concern us then that the happiness

concern us then that the happiness industry’s number one customer is

industry’s number one customer is

industry’s number one customer is corporate North America given that an

corporate North America given that an

corporate North America given that an often underreported cause of the

often underreported cause of the

often underreported cause of the financial meltdown and youth

financial meltdown and youth

financial meltdown and youth was the business culture was overly

was the business culture was overly

was the business culture was overly optimistic and key decision-makers were

optimistic and key decision-makers were

optimistic and key decision-makers were far too positive in a culture where

far too positive in a culture where

far too positive in a culture where negativity and failure were taboo

negativity and failure were taboo

negativity and failure were taboo subjects no one stole or is allowed to

subjects no one stole or is allowed to

subjects no one stole or is allowed to see the beer eating in the woods think

see the beer eating in the woods think

see the beer eating in the woods think about it if the culture that you work is

about it if the culture that you work is

about it if the culture that you work is aggressively positive and if optimism

aggressively positive and if optimism

aggressively positive and if optimism and happiness are mandatory and

and happiness are mandatory and

and happiness are mandatory and negativity is forbidden and you’re not

negativity is forbidden and you’re not

negativity is forbidden and you’re not allowed to be the proverbial rain cloud

allowed to be the proverbial rain cloud

allowed to be the proverbial rain cloud you dare not in that environment put up

you dare not in that environment put up

you dare not in that environment put up your hand and see has got a really bad

your hand and see has got a really bad

your hand and see has got a really bad feeling about this

feeling about this

feeling about this I don’t think it’ll work and we probably

I don’t think it’ll work and we probably

I don’t think it’ll work and we probably shouldn’t do it well sometimes that’s

shouldn’t do it well sometimes that’s

shouldn’t do it well sometimes that’s exactly what you should do however many

exactly what you should do however many

exactly what you should do however many hundreds of billions of dollars has been

hundreds of billions of dollars has been

hundreds of billions of dollars has been wiped off the value of major

wiped off the value of major

wiped off the value of major corporations because these

corporations because these

corporations because these decision-makers insisted on positivity

decision-makers insisted on positivity

decision-makers insisted on positivity and forbid negativity

and forbid negativity

and forbid negativity how many major corporations have a

how many major corporations have a

how many major corporations have a ceased to exist because that was so how

ceased to exist because that was so how

ceased to exist because that was so how many new startups have been unsuccessful

many new startups have been unsuccessful

many new startups have been unsuccessful because the entrepreneurs were rearing

because the entrepreneurs were rearing

because the entrepreneurs were rearing rose-tinted spectacles and didn’t see

rose-tinted spectacles and didn’t see

rose-tinted spectacles and didn’t see the danger we know the only three out of

the danger we know the only three out of

the danger we know the only three out of every ten new businesses survived the

every ten new businesses survived the

every ten new businesses survived the first five years and yet curiously 81%

first five years and yet curiously 81%

first five years and yet curiously 81% of entrepreneurs give themselves a

of entrepreneurs give themselves a

of entrepreneurs give themselves a better than seven in ten chance of

better than seven in ten chance of

better than seven in ten chance of success it seems that too many people

success it seems that too many people

success it seems that too many people are feeling too happy but they’re too

are feeling too happy but they’re too

are feeling too happy but they’re too positive and the positive optimism is

positive and the positive optimism is

positive and the positive optimism is making them blind to danger and this is

making them blind to danger and this is

making them blind to danger and this is a problem

a problem

a problem take show me as an example this was the

take show me as an example this was the

take show me as an example this was the field attempts by the two Canadian media

field attempts by the two Canadian media

field attempts by the two Canadian media giants Rodgers and Shaw to compete with

giants Rodgers and Shaw to compete with

giants Rodgers and Shaw to compete with Netflix bald world movie when they

Netflix bald world movie when they

Netflix bald world movie when they finally admitted defeat in 2016 the

finally admitted defeat in 2016 the

finally admitted defeat in 2016 the general manager of Xiaomi said

general manager of Xiaomi said

general manager of Xiaomi said fascinating he said the business was

fascinating he said the business was

fascinating he said the business was more challenging to operate than we

more challenging to operate than we

more challenging to operate than we expected this makes me wonder what

expected this makes me wonder what

expected this makes me wonder what exactly was it they expected and the

exactly was it they expected and the

exactly was it they expected and the thing that fascinates me about this guy

thing that fascinates me about this guy

thing that fascinates me about this guy is his super-smart long track record of

is his super-smart long track record of

is his super-smart long track record of success degree in finance from Stanford

success degree in finance from Stanford

success degree in finance from Stanford and MBA from Harvard and yet in less

and MBA from Harvard and yet in less

and MBA from Harvard and yet in less than five minutes my 12 year old son saw

than five minutes my 12 year old son saw

than five minutes my 12 year old son saw a bear hiding in the woods that the

a bear hiding in the woods that the

a bear hiding in the woods that the teams of smart media savvy geniuses a

teams of smart media savvy geniuses a

teams of smart media savvy geniuses a two of Canada’s most successful

two of Canada’s most successful

two of Canada’s most successful corporations completely missed

when she launched in 2014 my son like

when she launched in 2014 my son like everyone else took a look to see if it

everyone else took a look to see if it

everyone else took a look to see if it was any good and after literally minutes

was any good and after literally minutes

was any good and after literally minutes of painstakingly detailed research

of painstakingly detailed research

of painstakingly detailed research emphatically declared dad this is

emphatically declared dad this is

emphatically declared dad this is rubbish no way this is gonna work I said

rubbish no way this is gonna work I said

rubbish no way this is gonna work I said why not he said look it’s got less

why not he said look it’s got less

why not he said look it’s got less content than Netflix it doesn’t have any

content than Netflix it doesn’t have any

content than Netflix it doesn’t have any of the good shows why would we pay for

of the good shows why would we pay for

of the good shows why would we pay for this when we’re already paying for

this when we’re already paying for

this when we’re already paying for Netflix big question but an even bigger

Netflix big question but an even bigger

Netflix big question but an even bigger question is why did any of the super

question is why did any of the super

question is why did any of the super smart

smart

smart Chintan people a two of Canada’s biggest

Chintan people a two of Canada’s biggest

Chintan people a two of Canada’s biggest was successful companies seriously think

was successful companies seriously think

was successful companies seriously think that a streaming service that hit the

that a streaming service that hit the

that a streaming service that hit the market seven years after the competitor

market seven years after the competitor

market seven years after the competitor with less content for the same price was

with less content for the same price was

with less content for the same price was going to work when obviously it wasn’t

going to work when obviously it wasn’t

going to work when obviously it wasn’t this was one beer that wasn’t even

this was one beer that wasn’t even

this was one beer that wasn’t even hiding in the woods it was there in all

hiding in the woods it was there in all

hiding in the woods it was there in all it’s scary detail for the world to see

it’s scary detail for the world to see

it’s scary detail for the world to see and yet they didn’t see it why not one

and yet they didn’t see it why not one

and yet they didn’t see it why not one possible explanation is that optimism

possible explanation is that optimism

possible explanation is that optimism made them over estimates their chances

made them over estimates their chances

made them over estimates their chances of success and underestimate at best the

of success and underestimate at best the

of success and underestimate at best the possibilities of the dangers of failure

possibilities of the dangers of failure

possibilities of the dangers of failure and here’s the thing the more success

and here’s the thing the more success

and here’s the thing the more success you’ve had in the past the more proven

you’ve had in the past the more proven

you’ve had in the past the more proven your track record is the more wins

your track record is the more wins

your track record is the more wins you’ve got under your belt

you’ve got under your belt

you’ve got under your belt the world likely you are to fall into

the world likely you are to fall into

the world likely you are to fall into this trap this is why the hugely

this trap this is why the hugely

this trap this is why the hugely successful North American auto industry

successful North American auto industry

successful North American auto industry didn’t take the threat of small cheap

didn’t take the threat of small cheap

didn’t take the threat of small cheap import

import

import from Japan seriously until it was too

from Japan seriously until it was too

from Japan seriously until it was too late this is why when the hugely

late this is why when the hugely

late this is why when the hugely successful blockbuster video were

successful blockbuster video were

successful blockbuster video were offered the chance to buy Netflix they

offered the chance to buy Netflix they

offered the chance to buy Netflix they laughed it out of the room

laughed it out of the room

laughed it out of the room they actually laughed and in this much

they actually laughed and in this much

they actually laughed and in this much time they went from being a global

time they went from being a global

time they went from being a global player in the movie rental business

player in the movie rental business

player in the movie rental business where thousands of stores worldwide with

where thousands of stores worldwide with

where thousands of stores worldwide with a market share that was so big that

a market share that was so big that

a market share that was so big that going to Blockbuster was a key part of

going to Blockbuster was a key part of

going to Blockbuster was a key part of every family’s Friday and Saturday night

every family’s Friday and Saturday night

every family’s Friday and Saturday night they went from that in this much time to

they went from that in this much time to

they went from that in this much time to extinction optimists draw way too much

extinction optimists draw way too much

extinction optimists draw way too much confidence and lead too much security

confidence and lead too much security

confidence and lead too much security from yesterday’s successes the

from yesterday’s successes the

from yesterday’s successes the pessimists are wired differently they

pessimists are wired differently they

pessimists are wired differently they were always worrying about what went

were always worrying about what went

were always worrying about what went wrong next about the dangers of the next

wrong next about the dangers of the next

wrong next about the dangers of the next challenge and they never led the vision

challenge and they never led the vision

challenge and they never led the vision of standing on the mountaintop make them

of standing on the mountaintop make them

of standing on the mountaintop make them lose sight of the dangers involved in

lose sight of the dangers involved in

lose sight of the dangers involved in getting there so let’s see that you’re

getting there so let’s see that you’re

getting there so let’s see that you’re invited to give an important

invited to give an important

invited to give an important presentation at your work and it matters

presentation at your work and it matters

presentation at your work and it matters to you your boss will be there the

to you your boss will be there the

to you your boss will be there the directors will be there you needed to go

directors will be there you needed to go

directors will be there you needed to go well now let’s see you approach that

well now let’s see you approach that

well now let’s see you approach that presentation with optimism applying a

presentation with optimism applying a

presentation with optimism applying a few of the tricks you learned from

few of the tricks you learned from

few of the tricks you learned from positive psychology so you visualize

positive psychology so you visualize

positive psychology so you visualize yourself doing an amazing job in your

yourself doing an amazing job in your

yourself doing an amazing job in your imagination you can picture your

imagination you can picture your

imagination you can picture your audience hanging up on your every word

audience hanging up on your every word

audience hanging up on your every word in your mind’s eye you can hear the

in your mind’s eye you can hear the

in your mind’s eye you can hear the thunderous applause when they finish and

thunderous applause when they finish and

thunderous applause when they finish and you can almost feel your boss’s hand pat

you can almost feel your boss’s hand pat

you can almost feel your boss’s hand pat you on the show

you on the show

you on the show as she says good job let’s have lunch

as she says good job let’s have lunch

as she says good job let’s have lunch and talk about their promotion if you

and talk about their promotion if you

and talk about their promotion if you approach your presentation with that

approach your presentation with that

approach your presentation with that level of optimism immediately confidence

level of optimism immediately confidence

level of optimism immediately confidence that is true but it is equally true that

that is true but it is equally true that

that is true but it is equally true that it may give you overconfidence and your

it may give you overconfidence and your

it may give you overconfidence and your overconfidence because you too under

overconfidence because you too under

overconfidence because you too under prepare and take success for granted and

prepare and take success for granted and

prepare and take success for granted and over loot many of the things that true

over loot many of the things that true

over loot many of the things that true to go wrong and as be pessimists will

to go wrong and as be pessimists will

to go wrong and as be pessimists will tell you there are not many things that

tell you there are not many things that

tell you there are not many things that could go wrong you can lose the USB

could go wrong you can lose the USB

could go wrong you can lose the USB that’s got their slaves five minutes

that’s got their slaves five minutes

that’s got their slaves five minutes before your presentation you could spill

before your presentation you could spill

before your presentation you could spill coffee on your nose your battery could

coffee on your nose your battery could

coffee on your nose your battery could run out of power of a laptop could crash

run out of power of a laptop could crash

run out of power of a laptop could crash it’s a nightmare but none of that

it’s a nightmare but none of that

it’s a nightmare but none of that matters to the pessimist because he saw

matters to the pessimist because he saw

matters to the pessimist because he saw those fears hiding in the woods a long

those fears hiding in the woods a long

those fears hiding in the woods a long time ago and he didn’t just prepared he

time ago and he didn’t just prepared he

time ago and he didn’t just prepared he over prepared when he was putting the

over prepared when he was putting the

over prepared when he was putting the slides on a USB he made two extra copies

slides on a USB he made two extra copies

slides on a USB he made two extra copies one for his briefcase one for Setar

one for his briefcase one for Setar

one for his briefcase one for Setar pocket when he printed out his notes he

pocket when he printed out his notes he

pocket when he printed out his notes he made a spare copy and he put the sphere

made a spare copy and he put the sphere

made a spare copy and he put the sphere copy then a plastic folder coffee no

copy then a plastic folder coffee no

copy then a plastic folder coffee no problem

problem

problem he makes sure that after he was charged

he makes sure that after he was charged

he makes sure that after he was charged and just to be extra sure he brought a

and just to be extra sure he brought a

and just to be extra sure he brought a backup laptop because you can never over

backup laptop because you can never over

backup laptop because you can never over prepare and that’s the edge that’s the

prepare and that’s the edge that’s the

prepare and that’s the edge that’s the advantage that pessimism gives you and

advantage that pessimism gives you and

advantage that pessimism gives you and that sly pessimists are often still

that sly pessimists are often still

that sly pessimists are often still standing still surviving and still

standing still surviving and still

standing still surviving and still thriving long after their happy

thriving long after their happy

thriving long after their happy counterparts have gone into extinction

counterparts have gone into extinction

counterparts have gone into extinction to speak in praise of pessimism is not

to speak in praise of pessimism is not

to speak in praise of pessimism is not to say that it’s going to read it’s just

to say that it’s going to read it’s just

to say that it’s going to read it’s just to say that this is love and it can read

to say that this is love and it can read

to say that this is love and it can read and it quite often does and umbrellas

and it quite often does and umbrellas

and it quite often does and umbrellas are a lot cheaper than ammonia and

are a lot cheaper than ammonia and

are a lot cheaper than ammonia and that’s why the world needs more

that’s why the world needs more

that’s why the world needs more pessimists I thank you

pessimists I thank you

pessimists I thank you [Applause]

”

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