Over the last few years we have responded to the difficulties and challenges that face our world by becoming pessimistic. We've shrouded ourselves in an armor of cynicism and taken a negative outlook on everything from politics (it's broken!) to the economy (it's bad!).

There's a truth in pessimism, but it comes at a cost to our humanity.

To the pessimist the world's problems can't be conquered, they're pervasive. We are merely bystanders in a world gone wrong. Victims of a broken economy, broken politics and an unsustainable world. But, this view removes our own sense of agency. Our own remarkable ability to affect change, both big and small, on the world around us.

So as we enter into this new year, let's take a moment to think of the amazing world in which we live. Your phone is now more powerful than the desktop computer you owned five years ago, the world is less violent than it's ever been, old age and lasting health are now more achievable than your grandparents could've ever imagined and the internet allows for access to unlimited resources of learning and opportunity.

If there was ever a time for optimism, the time is now.

Welcome to 2012. It's going to be an amazing year.