With its focus on the positive and proclivity for celebration, laughter and frolicking with wild abandon, it's understandable that people might assume Shenaniganism is most closely associated with optimism. And to the degree that optimism is synonymous with being cheerful and good-natured, one could say that Shenaniganists are optimistic – or at least, they strive to be. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) defines optimism as “the doctrine that this world is the best of all possible worlds; the belief that good must ultimately prevail over evil in the universe.” And, in the usual sense, being optimistic means one expects the best possible outcome in any situation.

 

But, Shenaniganism does not recognize that evil exists. We strive to replace negative energy and emotions with positive actions and feelings, but do not believe there is a malicious force lurking in the universe that seeks to do us harm. Things happen that are beyond our control, but these are random events and not the result of some unseen battle between good and evil raging around us. Shenaniganism acknowledges that sometimes the world, or the space we occupy in it, does not feel like a good place. Bad things happen for no reason and without warning. Shenaniganists hope for the best outcome in every situation, but we don't expect it.

 

So if we're not total optimists living in a world of sunshine and rainbows drinking from half-full, rose-colored glasses, then what? There's a lesser-known philosophy called agathism that the OED defines as “the doctrine that all things tend toward ultimate good, as distinguished from optimism, which holds that all things are now for the best.” In other words, agathists accept that misfortune will at some point befall us, but that the eventual outcome leads towards good. They may see the world in an essentially positive light, but a place in which bad things can and do happen to good people.

 

Because it accepts that the worst things can happen to even the best people, agathism is closer to Shenaniganism than is optimism. However, Shenaniganists are real people who live in this real world, and the idea that all things tend toward ultimate good is still a bit of a stretch ... although it's a lovely concept.

 

Since Shenaniganism is not a religion, is without a deity, theory of creation or the afterlife, and teaches that right now is all we have, believers tends to be fairly pragmatic. But not completely – after all, at least some of their thoughts and actions are based on their belief in Shenaniganism, rather than absolute practicality. So pragmatism plays a part in Shenaniganism, but also falls short of accurately describing it.

 

Shenaniganism is a doctrine of its own, but it isn't hard to see the parallels between it and these three philosophies. We are positive, we are realistic and we are practical. Our goal is not to become perfect people, it's to become better versions of ourselves in an imperfect world.