Am I Cynical?

Have you woken up some mornings wondering what has gone wrong with our world? It doesn't take long in the morning to see the bad stuff surface! Just go online, watch the news or drive to work and get cut off. You can pretty easily get a streak of cynicism going!

Sharon Hodde Miller writes in her book: Nice:Why We Love to be Liked and How God Calls us to More, “The word cynicism generally refers to pessimism about or skepticism toward other people. It can develop in a number of ways: slowly over time through a series of wounds or bad experiences or as the result of a bias toward a specific group.”

Something painful occurs in your life. (breakup in relationship, financial need, job exit, social media challenge, car wreck, physical challenge, etc) You can enter a state of painful disillusionment where you think things should be a certain way. But they’re not. This can shake you to the core and leads to cynicism. How about you?

• What brings on cynicism for you?
• What beliefs do you have about people and the world around you? Are they true beliefs?
• Do you pass your cynicism on to others?
• What absolutes do you live by? “All…Every….Always… Everytime…”

Let’s not be people known by our cynicism, but by our love. Just look to the Gospels and note Christ’s life. Jesus was hurt, betrayed, mocked, humiliated and experienced a humiliating death. Do you think at any point in Jesus’ life that He was cynical? Jesus models a different way and invites us to walk with Him.

Miller writes in her book: “As much as we want to enlist our cynicism to prove how much we know, cynicism accomplishes the opposite. It reveals our wounds, our pride, or our personal axes to grind, but it does not bolster our authority.”  What would our organization, family and relationships look like if cynicism were eliminated?

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen….Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” (Ephesians 4:29, 31)

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:7

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.