I'm a big cockeyed optimist. I try to accentuate the positive as

Hear now the words of Betty White, a woman whose laughter carried the light of many ages: “I’m a big cockeyed optimist. I try to accentuate the positive as opposed to the negative.” Though spoken with humor and humility, this saying bears the strength of a warrior’s creed. For the world is filled with shadows—sorrows that cling to the heart, failures that wound the spirit, tragedies that would turn the bravest soul cold. Yet Betty declares herself an optimist, one who lifts her gaze above the storm, choosing not to be bound by despair but to magnify what is good, bright, and hopeful. This is not naivety—it is courage disguised as cheer.

The ancients too taught this wisdom. The Stoics said, “Man is disturbed not by things, but by the view he takes of them.” Thus the soul must decide whether to dwell on ruin or to behold opportunity. To accentuate the positive is to hold power over one’s fate, to refuse to surrender to bitterness, and to transform even hardship into fuel for endurance. Betty White, with her long life filled with both triumph and trial, knew this deeply. Her optimism was not blind—it was the disciplined art of choosing where to place the eyes of the soul.

Consider the story of Helen Keller, born in darkness and silence, yet refusing to let despair master her. With the guidance of her teacher Anne Sullivan, she learned not only to communicate, but to speak and to inspire millions. By all measures, her condition could have been a prison, a source of endless sorrow. Yet through the practice of optimism—through the relentless accentuation of the positive—she became a beacon of hope. Her life proved that optimism is not a denial of reality but the creation of a higher one.

This is the essence of Betty White’s creed: that joy is not the gift of circumstance but the fruit of perspective. She saw the world through the lens of humor, kindness, and resilience, and in return the world responded with love. To be a cockeyed optimist is not to see life perfectly, but to tilt the head and find the ray of light that others overlook. In every situation, however bleak, there lies some glimmer of good—and the wise heart learns to treasure it.

The origin of this wisdom lies in the eternal struggle of mankind against despair. In every generation, voices have risen to remind us that the soul must not be enslaved by shadows. From the Psalms that cry, “Joy comes in the morning,” to the hymns of soldiers who sang amidst the smoke of battle, humanity has always known that hope is the mightiest weapon. Betty White’s words are but a modern echo of this ancient truth: optimism is not frivolity—it is survival, it is strength, it is the seed of victory.

The lesson is clear: when faced with hardship, do not magnify the wound, but magnify the light. Speak words of gratitude even when your lips tremble. Laugh, not because life is easy, but because laughter is defiance against despair. Surround yourself with companions who uplift rather than those who sink into complaint. And when you feel the weight of the world, pause and ask: “What can I be thankful for in this very moment?” This simple act shifts the balance, turning the spiral of negativity into a ladder of hope.

Practical steps follow from this teaching: Begin each day by naming three blessings, however small. When trials come, write down not only the pain but also one lesson or hidden gift. Train your eyes to notice beauty—the smile of a stranger, the warmth of the sun, the resilience of a flower blooming in concrete. Choose to share words of encouragement with others, for by giving light, you strengthen your own flame. And above all, never underestimate the strength of joy—it is the armor of the heart.

Thus, Betty White’s gentle humor becomes an immortal teaching: to be a cockeyed optimist is to choose a path of resilience. To accentuate the positive is to wield light against the shadows. And in so doing, you not only lift yourself—you become a lantern for others, a reminder that even in a world of sorrow, laughter and hope can endure across the generations.