In this animated talk, acclaimed journalist, author and political activist Barbara Ehrenreich explores the darker side of positive thinking. Watch the full lecture here: 

http://www.thersa.org/events/video/archive/barbara-ehrenrich-smile-or-die

This has to be one of my favorite RSA videos as it relates to a lot of the seemingly "mandatory optimism" that pervades American culture.  While one might be viewed as a downer or a pessimist when raising awareness on real problems, whether in a corporation or interpersonal interactions, being too optimistic can hurt everyone.  The video above highlights that the opposite of this brand of blind optimism is not pessimism, but realism and vigilance.

While I've personally coached people to go into job interviews with a positive attitude in spite of dismal personal circumstances, I've also pointed out the other side of the coin.  It's important to encourage people to remain vigilant in order to keep a job, but to not get caught up wearing rose-colored lenses in any environment - personal or professional.  Wearing a smile to an interview and on the job may be part of surviving, but buying into the idea that your thoughts change your surroundings and dissolve potential corruption in any environment can prove to be detrimental on both the macro and micro level.

As humans, and as Ehrenreich points out, we are hard-wired to be vigilant, which is how we've come to evolve and survive physical dangers and disasters.  Optimism can be dangerous when we drop our guard, and while pessimism may very well be a delusion itself, vigilance above all else is key to survival.  A "smile or die" mentality is a powerful method of social control which has been used throughout history, and keeps populations complacent and complicit.  Imagine this level of passivity in the wild, or even in combat.  Your best bet, in any case, is to stay alert in order to stay alive.

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