We all have thoughts, we all have ideas. But often, these thoughts and ideas just stagnate and drift away after a few days, weeks, months - we lose our perspective.
Perhaps the greatest advice addressing this issue is "just do."
As that Chinese saying goes, "the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now."
These phrases are as true as they are cliche, but I'm sure you're already aware of this. Instead, I want to address two other issues that you may not expect to be related to this.
Communicate
If there's something that makes us distinctly human, it's that we can communicate ideas. Animals can chirp, whistle, give of scents, and relay information far superior to us. But no animal in the world can say "Hey, I have an idea! I'll tell my friends about it!" The closest you get is with bottlenose dolphins that can convey how objects are different in their whistles - equivalent to a human toddler's cognizant level.
Why is this related to perspective? For us, communication isn't just a way to talk to other people; it's a way to talk to yourself. By putting down your own ideas, you are able to clarify your thoughts.
Did you ever tell someone a joke, or some perfect idea you had in your mind, just for it to come out completely flat - or even worse - awkward? If so, that's great! It means you know that thinking and talking is not the same. Maintaining perspective means you've thought out a goal. And a though-out goal is one that needs to be clear. Even talking to yourself is fine; but when you have people around you with their own perspectives, you will have to opportunity to flesh out and grow your own perspective.
Communication is also fundamental to solving problems. That comment may seem trivial and unrelated at first, but 65% of divorces and 62% of job losses would disagree. Any misalignment in perspective can get exponentially worse as communication decreases. And this can happen in everyday life too. I think most of us has had misunderstandings with friends and family before. You know, when you and your friend can't bear to talk to each other because something just feels wrong? In most cases, this is the perfect time to say something. Anything. What you feel uncomfortable about. By communicating issues, you're not only maintaining your own temporary perspective, but you're retaining a much stronger bundle of perspectives.
Allocate your pessimism
I assume most people reading this are Americans. And there's nothing more American than being negatively engaged with politics in one way or another. So many terms can be used to describe this. Outrage culture, or, more recently, TAD (Trump Anxiety Disorder). (Did seeing that word make you pause for a second?)
Is this feeling necessary though? Unless you're planning to tackle this issue, will being upset about something far beyond your powers help you in any way?
Thinking about this abstractly may be difficult, but I like how this late 19th century Japanese conservationist describes it. You can think of everything relevant to life as having some flow to it. In nature, it's a river. In your life, it can be a constant dialogue between you and some cause. But blocking off this flow creates what's called "yodomi," which translates to backwater or stagnation. By letting your feelings build up, you can either put enough pressure to burst through this metaphorical dam, or your feelings will just pool up and develop algae blooms and mosquitoes (not good). So, let me ask this another way. Do you think your irritation will ultimately create movement? Or will it just fester and choke you up?
If this is an issue you have, there are many self-help books dealing with positivity and how to be positive. But personally, I choose to prioritize my perspectives in places that I can deal with. If it's something way beyond my control, I treat it like watching a movie. While you may disagree with this approach, it is important to not let situations grip you. In doing so, you're not focused on what's out of reach, but what's in front of you.
In conclusion, while it's important to have a perspective, it's equally important to communicate and to control your feelings.
Relevant stuff
Bad Water: Nature, Pollution, and Politics in Japan, 1870–1950
nice post! I loved how you backed up your insights with evidence, and I'll definitely try to stay positive in my life by communicating better and allocating my pessimism :)
I found your post extremely relatable. I had never really thought about allocating my pessimism and I think that it can be very beneficial. With so many things out of our control, it's really important that we don't focus our negative feelings towards things that we can't change. The questions that you pose really describe identifiable steps that can help me maintain perspective and live a generally happier life.
Communication, in my opinion, is the key to success, especially in these trying times. I've definitely been in the situation where my seemingly perfect joke came out absolutely awful. I feel like a would have much better relationships with people if I could communicate more effectively, both with them and with myself. My inner dialogue is a constant battle trying to figure the perfect thing to say at any given moment. I sometimes catch myself coming up with hypothetical conversations with people and determining the perfect responses. Going forward through quarantine, I'm definitely making better communication a priority to myself.