Cynicism is especially active on social media. Despite the harm negative rhetoric causes cynics see theirselves as the protagonist.
Below is a conversation where the White Rabbit gives Alice advice about how to protect herself from being hurt by words.
“Do you love Me?” Alice asked. “No, I don’t love you!” replied the White Rabbit. Alice frowned and clasped her hands together as she did whenever she felt hurt. “See?” replied the White Rabbit. “Now you’re going to start asking yourself what makes you so imperfect and what did you do wrong so that I can’t love you at least a little. You know, that’s why I can’t love you. You will not always be loved Alice, there will be days when others will be tired and bored with life, will have their heads in the clouds, and will hurt you. Because people are like that, they somehow always end up hurting each other’s feelings, whether through carelessness, misunderstanding, or conflicts with themselves. If you don’t love yourself, at least a little, if you don’t create an armor of self-love and happiness around your heart, the feeble annoyances caused by others will become lethal and will destroy you. The first time I saw you I made a pact with myself: ‘I will avoid loving you until you learn to love yourself.’ “~Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland. Art: Milo Winter, Alice In Wonderland, 1924
This conversation explains the love of one’s self is critical to deflect malicious words and personalities. This is especially important if you serve as a public official. Regardless of hard work and wise governance there will always be a chronically triggered citizen. Armed with emotional malice they seek to harm personal reputations and organizations. Professionalism and self-esteem is the armor against cynicism. Conversely, low-self esteem and Mania is a common thread of the antagonist cynic.
✨Albert Einstein famously said, “The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.”
This quote emphasizes the importance of adaptability and flexibility. Rather than being rigid in thought, a person should be open to new ideas, willing to learn, and able to adjust to changing circumstances. In a world that is constantly evolving, the ability to change is crucial for problem-solving and innovation. Einstein’s insight reminds us that intelligence is not just about knowledge or IQ but also about the capacity to adapt and grow in response to new challenges and opportunities.