Don’t Worry, Be Happy – for ‘We Ain’t What We Was’
The Way We Were
There was a recent global survey, which included a number of Asean countries, on the people’s expectations of 2025. I was pleasantly surprised at the high levels of optimism found in this region.
I read claims that the optimism in Asean is because we’re clustered around, and riding on, Singapore and its success. That brought out a wry smile in me, especially as Singapore, which scored only slightly higher than the global average, also scored the lowest among the Asean countries surveyed.
Indonesia scored the highest, with 90% of Indonesians surveyed saying they’re optimistic about 2025. The other 10% must be Singaporeans residing there! The Philippines, the perennial sick man of Southeast Asia, came very close behind, with Thailand scoring highly too.
We Malaysians didn’t do too badly, with 82% expressing optimism for 2025. We scored much better than all the other developed countries surveyed, especially Japan where just 38% were optimistic.
MLK and the Preacher
Or, as Martin Luther King famously quoted a slave preacher saying on hearing the Emancipation Proclamation for the first time: “Lord, we ain’t what we ought to be. We ain’t what we want to be. We ain’t what we gonna be. But, thank God, we ain’t what we was.”
More Today, More Tomorrow
Most of us Malaysians are living a better life than our parents, unless they are billionaires or prime ministers. That we’re optimistic about the future means we expect our life, and those of our children, to continue to get even better.
The Decline and Fall
History is full of stories of growth and decline of great powers, many of which lasted centuries, and in the Egyptians case, even millennia. The British empire itself lasted hundreds of years, and at its peak no other powers on earth could challenge it.
Smell the Roses
In my past working life, I used to tell the younger ones to enjoy the moment, and not to realise, only when they are old, how wonderful things are now. But many, being the inveterate complainers that Malaysians can be, are often too busy bitching and whining about things to appreciate the here and now.
The Luckiest People
So, as we enter a new year, don’t forget we Asean-ias (you heard that word here first folks) are some of the luckiest people on earth. We live within bountiful lands and seas, amid relative peace, with every confidence that life will get better.
Conclusion
As we embark on a new year, let us not forget to appreciate the present and look forward to the future with optimism. Malaysia isn’t perfect, and it’s a valid question whether we’re getting better or worse. But here our judgment is also very revealing about our attitude. The truth is, our attitude is the single biggest driver of our outlook on life.
FAQs
Q: What is the main driver of our outlook on life?
A: Our attitude is the single biggest driver of our outlook on life.
Q: What is the difference between optimism and pessimism?
A: Optimism is the feeling that things were bad but, regardless of the past, things will get better. Pessimism is the feeling that things will get worse.
Q: What is the secret to happiness?
A: The secret to happiness is to appreciate the present and look forward to the future with optimism.
Q: What is the main difference between Asean countries and developed countries?
A: The main difference is that Asean countries are more optimistic about the future, while developed countries are more pessimistic.