3 Signs Cynicism Is Running Your Life (And How You Can Fix It)

No one enjoys being around a cynic. I would even argue no one actually enjoys being a cynic either. And yet, it can be hard not to be. Because of that, in this post I'm sharing three signs you may be becoming too cynical, and one way to fight against it.

1) You can't celebrate other people's wins

Whether your friend gets a promotion, a church is given a new building, or an organization lands the big contract, never being able to celebrate others wins is a sign you may be growing cynical.

It's hard to fight human nature; we can be jealous and envious when things go well for others and not ourselves. So it isn't that you'll never feel a sense of "I wish that happened to me." But being genuinely glad for others is a sign that you aren't being run by cynicism. And as crazy as it sounds, even practicing gratitude when things go well for others really does help you fight against cynicism in your own life.

If you want to be less cynical, be grateful when (and let others know that you are) cool things happens to other people, organizations, or churches.

2) Sarcasm has become a default response

Another big indicator that cynicism is running your life? Sarcasm. If everything is a joke, it's easy to pretend nothing really matters.

This isn't to say someone should never be sarcastic. There are times and places where appropriate sarcasm can be funny, lighthearted, and fun. But when a lot of things are met with sarcasm, it reveals a bigger issue. Sarcasm can hide insecurities people may be feeling, or jealousy, or even anger.

When you're too afraid to confront an issue, sarcasm seems to be an easy way to avoid it. When your envious of someone else, sarcasm is an easy way to hide it. And all of these negative emotions lead to the same place: cynicism.

3) You think the status quo can't be challenged

The stereotype is often true. When you are young and just starting out, you want to change the world. Regardless of job, career, or change you want to see happen in the world, most people desire to make a difference somehow.

But then reality sets in. You realize a lot of people are fine with how things are. Things don't go the way you had hoped. You turn 30 or 40 or 50 and you aren't where you thought you would be in your life by then. And cynicism starts to creep in.

Were you overly-ambitious when you were just starting out? Perhaps. But that doesn't mean you can't do anything now. But instead of trying, you become tired, cynical, and bored.

Starting that business seems unattainable now. Improving on a skill seems like a waste of time; you should have tried it years ago. Things are what they are and there is no point in doing things differently, or so it seems. And yet, we see that most of the successful businesses, growing churches, and people who accomplish are the ones who challenged the status quo.

Apple. Facebook. Google. Netflix. All of these companies did things no one else was doing. They didn't believe things couldn't change. And yes, those are extreme examples, but the principle still stands. The more cynical we are, the less we try to do the things that God has place on our hearts.

How Jesus defeats cynycism

It has been my experience that those who love and pursue Jesus the most are the least cynical. Why? Because the Gospel shows us that our identity is not tied to our success and failures, so we can celebrate without jealousy when God moves in a big way in another person, church, or organization.

When we understand there is grace for us, we are more likely to give it to others. When we understand that the world is not what it is supposed to be (that is why Jesus came, so we can take part in the perfected world to come), it allows us to see more clearly and work towards creating environments and/or being the person that gives hope and life to others.

Life is hard, that's why it is easy to get cynical. Jesus' coming shows us that God cares because if he didn't care he wouldn't have come. The Gospel of what Jesus did for us encourages us to know that this isn't the end. That even in the midst of difficulty, there is still hope.

The least cynical people I know are people who are the closest to Jesus. Why? I think it's because they understand that while every wrong will not be righted in this life, some wrongs can be. And it takes non-cynical people to work towards that end.