Optimism as a metric
Improvements in the human condition are easier to create and measure when times are tough. Starving? Eat. Thirsty? Drink. Homeless? Find shelter or build a home if you can afford it (if you're in Goa, good luck).
In times of abundance though, things get slightly tricky. How do you measure if your life is good when you have everything you need?
Income? No, there are too many rich people who are depressed.
Status? No, only one person can be the highest status, which means the rest are losing.
Bridges, ports, and flyovers are visible signs of economic growth, yes. But in a post scarcity world, we need a new way to measure development. A new metric. A metric that focuses more on internal emotional states than on worldly physical structures.
Can we assess how people feel? Are they content with their lives? Do they wake up excited about the future?
Are they optimistic?
Contentment as a metric is too Buddhist. It requires us to fight against our natural tendencies. But optimism? That works to improve your life, no matter your income or status level. I'm yet to meet a miserable person who believes their future is going to be better than their past.
The more optimistic you are, the better you feel. The better you feel, the better off you are. I know what you're thinking – if feeling good is the goal, why not just get high on some substance?
The answer: Negative Externalities.
But Optimism? it has none.