Hope is contagious too

TEDxKarachi won’t change the world, but it provided a refreshing reminder of how hope and optimism can transform people. There is a reason that Obama used the word to galvanise his presidential campaign. Hope is integral to mankind, providing us with inspiration to create a better future for us and our children — a promised land for which to strive.

But we do need to provide ourselves with a sense of hope. I went to the conference a cynic and came away with a renewed sense of vigour and purpose towards creating a better Pakistan. If a small conference can do that for 300 people, imagine what espousing these emotional triggers on a national level could do?

Optimism and hope are emotional triggers that are sadly all too absent from our media and our national dialogue. Instead we revel in fear, pessimism and despondency. A contagious negative state that further perpetuates fear, pessimism and despondency. Why can’t we recalibrate this vicious cycle?

Take the recent coverage of Cyclone Phet for instance. The media did sterling work in responsibly covering the emerging cyclone and warning us of potential dangers. My beef, however, was in their inability to sufficiently celebrate the heroic work done by so many to ensure the public’s safety. The Pakistan Navy and helicopter crews that rescued stranded fishermen, the city government that ordered the dismantling of billboards prior to the storm — these people should be praised for a job well done. But it didn’t happen. As a nation we are so quick to condemn when things go wrong, but rarely do we congratulate our officials when they do a good job. We all know how it feels when we are praised at work. We work twice as hard afterwards. It’s time our media started celebrating our nation’s successes. It’s time to switch off the de facto cynicism switch.