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Which is why the optimal strategy is to be optimist most of the time, but fall into depressive mood when we encounter a lot of obstacles. Use that depressive ti
by mamon 10y ago
Which is why the optimal strategy is to be optimist most of the time, but fall into depressive mood when we encounter a lot of obstacles. Use that depressive time to assess your situation and then start changing it, fueled by your normal optimism.
The issue is, if the obstacles we encounter are too many then we remain in low mood for too long, and that state becomes permament. Early in human evolution, when we were all living at savanah all the dangers and obstacles were short-term. This is entirely different in civilized society.
- dfischer 10y agoWow I really enjoyed reading your first paragraph. Thanks.
- thesimpsons1022 10y agodo you know that depression is a real disease and not some frame of mind you can choose to be in or excuse at will? i get the point of your post but the terminology is really wrong.
- striking 10y agoFrom Wikipedia: > A DSM diagnosis distinguishes an episode (or 'state') of depression from the habitual (or 'trait') depressive symptoms someone can experience as part of their personality. Depressive mood != depressive disorder. The terminology isn't wrong.
- thesimpsons1022 10y agoperhaps. but the original article was talking about actual depressed people.
- samirillian 10y agoFair point. The research was already mixing philosophy with psychology, so I just ran with it.
- dgreensp 10y agoI read "optimal strategy" as slightly tongue-in-cheek, considering we don't have direct control over our moods.