To be a Pronoid is to be the opposite of paranoid: you approach folks and the world as if they are willing to help and support you, not out to get you. Being a pronoid means you have a welcoming orientation toward life and your world view is full of feelings of hope, optimism, and faith. Pronoid is associated with powerful resilience, calm confidence and deep inner assurance, a mind-set akin to “optimism on steroids.”

While a radically positive philosophy to some, the concept has been around for a while: In 1963, J. D. Salinger’s character Seymour in Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters describes himself: “I am a kind of paranoid in reverse. I suspect people of plotting to make me happy” and author Rob Brezsny sums up the concept nicely with his poetic title “Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How the Whole World Is Conspiring to Shower You with Blessings.”

While never advocating naïve or blind optimism, especially in situations with significant downside risk (do please double check your parachute is packed correctly, ditto the reserve one too!), an optimistic, positive attitude in life will serve you much, much better than a downbeat, defeatist one ever could.

Closing Quotes:

“Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.” – Colin Powell; 1937-2021, 65th US Secretary of Staff, former DOD Chief of Staff

“If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.” – Peace Pilgrim, 1908-1981

“Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you stay positive, good things and good people will be drawn to you.” – Mary Lou Retton, 1984 Olympic Gymnastics Gold Medalist

As always, I share what I most want and need to learn. – Nathan S. Collier