Radical Optimism

I love Joan Halifax' description of radical optimism -- that it's not an investment plan and it is a plan free of design, both of which ruin many a good action. Only the radical optimist can bear witness means to me that a person bears witness in doing right action because it is right and not to bring about some desired outcome. Right compassionate pure action is its own reward. My greatest fulfillment is when I express from my truth in the moment without any agenda, not trying to control or manipulate an outcome, and leave outcome to forces bigger than me. What helps me avoid the trap of spiritual materialism is having faith in and living what I have written, and sometimes I do. The mantra that helps me is right process, not outcome.