Optimal Theory is universal because it is about oneness, interconnectedness, the Rights of Creation and originates from the one Earthly place all humans can and should call home.
Definitions Of Worldview (Utamawazo)
“ A worldview is a structure of philosophical assumptions, values and principles upon which a way of perceiving the world is based. A worldview is a highly structured, complex, interacting set of values, expectations and images of oneself and others, which guide, and in turn are guided by, a person's perceptions and behavior and which are closely related to their emotional states and feelings of well-being.”Universal Worldview
“Optimal Theory has its roots in the awareness of an alternative worldview that is centered in Africa as the historical point of generation and is thus Afrocentric. Dating back to the beginning of human culture and civilization, this worldview can be identified among all cultural groups to a greater or lesser extent as they have migrated throughout the world. This worldview is thus universal, as all people can trace their ancestry back to Africa.” (1) Furthermore, since Optimal Theory builds upon the best of the tradition of wisdom and deep thought from classical African civilization through the challenges and triumphs of the Maafa of non-immigrant Africans in the Americas it contains the lessons of humanity rising to heights and falling to lows and enduring through a variety of struggles. The range of understanding contained within the optimal worldview covers the widest range of human experience available. Thus, for this reason also, the optimal worldview is universal and applicable to all as a solution to reconfigure societies into civilizations. (1.5) Optimal Theory can also be characterized as universal because it “places primary value on peace, harmony with all creation, balance, the greatest good, positive interpersonal relationships, being holistic, cooperation, spiritual/material reality, spiritual/material unity, communalism, the extended self, inclusive logic, learning through inductive synthesis, multiple ways of knowing, self-knowledge, Ancestors and more.” (2)A Lot More To An Optimal Universal Worldview
“The universal commonality of the optimal worldview is based on the guiding principles of ancient African traditional thought, which includes unity, cooperative effort, mutual responsibility and reconciliation. Others are valued as being equal to oneself. Equal valuing of others is based on the capacity to transcend the limits of self and to identify with the needs and concerns of others. This interest in others is manifested interpersonally through such means as empathy and cooperation. Shared participation in activities is valued and pursued.” “An optimal worldview causes one to be more mindful, open to new information, open to new categories of information and aware of more than one perspective. Behavior is not guided by conditions or circumstances, the nature of the experience is not determined by the conditions or the circumstances and the process is just as important as the outcome.” “Optimal Theory calls for the fearless study of the metaphysical in the evolution of humanity, the sacred role of Ancestors, the use of ritual, the honoring of nature as an extension of the self and the community as viable and culturally congruent aspects of promoting and achieving health and well-being.” (2.5) ”The positive perspective of the optimal worldview is thought to be the monitoring and stopping of self-defeating and other negative thoughts, and assists in the development of empathy, honesty, trust, humor, forgiveness, assertiveness, hardiness (toughness, resilience), creative problem solving and stress reduction.” “Willingness to cooperate with others may reduce hostility, feelings of threat, jealousy and interpersonal conflict, which in turn may minimize excessive forms of stress. When cooperation is valued, the burden of responsibility for success or failure is shared, easing the stress, caused by failure or the fear of failure. Additionally, when change and challenge (two stress producing events) are viewed as positive and useful events such optimal beliefs may act as a buffer between stressful life events and resultant poor health by cognitively transforming those stressful events into positively viewed challenges.” (3)Universal Appeal
“Although the essence of Optimal Theory seems to underlie all major religions*, teachings consistent with this worldview have been identified among both the religious and non-religious.” (4) This is to be expected since all major religions have origins and/or significant borrowings from African philosophical thought and these philosophical teachings have been widely disseminated in many forms under many names. George G. M. James reminds us...”...all the great leaders of the great religions of antiquity were Initiates of the Egyptian Mystery System: from Moses, who was an Egyptian Hierogrammat, down to Christ.” (5) The essence of all things, including humans, is spirit. There is always a need for our spiritual essence to communicate with us throughout all our dimensions of body, mind and emotion and to communicate with other spirits. One way is through divination. Divination is something many of us do in a different form we call communing with nature, which can be likened to communicating with the neters and Ancestors. Divination, which is also universally practiced, is also a part of an optimal worldview. “Divination remains a reliable source of knowledge for millions of people in almost all the religions known to humankind. In all nations and cultures, from prehistoric time to our digital age, people of all types of education and religious convictions seek the wisdom of divination by consulting people known as diviners, clairvoyants, shamans, psychics, mediums, or prophets.” (6)For Those Ready To Change The World, One Universe At A Time
In addition to the numerous positive consequences above, following an optimal worldview has even more positive consequences that might not seem so at first. “As you confirm the universality of the optimal worldview and commit to its pursuit, as the process of exchanging perspectives and values takes place, you must remain diligently mindful that any negativity, experienced or felt, reveals aspects of self that need strengthening or reconciling and is therefore an opportunity for growth and increased self-knowledge.” (7) Each of us contain a universe, perhaps more. If we change within, the world without can't help but change towards optimally also.”Ten Cardinal Principles Of Ancient African Deep Thought”(1) Quoted and paraphrased with additions: Myers, Linda James; Montgomery, Derek; Fine, Mark; Reese, Roy, (1992), "Belief Systems Analysis Scale And Belief And Behavior Awareness Scale Development: Measuring An Optimal, Afrocentric World-view, In R. Jones (Ed.), "Handbook Of Tests And Measurements For Black Populations, (2 vols), Hampton, VA: Cobb & Henry Publishers, p. 19
(1.5) Quoted and paraphrased with additions: Myers, Linda James, Ph.D. & Speight, Suzette L., Ph.D., "Reframing Mental Health and Psychological Well-Being Among Persons of African Descent: Africana/Black Psychology Meeting the Challenges of Fractured Social and Cultural Realities,"The Journal of Pan African Studies, (2010, June), vol.3, no.8, p. 75.
(2) Myers; Montgomery, pp. 20-21.
(2.5) Myers, p. 79.
(3) Myers; Montgomery, pp. 22-23.
(4) Ibid., p. 21.
(5) James, George G. M., "Stolen Legacy: Greek Philosophy is Stolen Egyptian Philosophy," The Journal of Pan African Studies, (2009) eBook, p. 29 (originally published in New York by Philosophical Library in 1954).
(6) Asante, Molefi Kete and Mazama, Ama Editors, "Encyclopedia Of African Religion," (2009) pp. 206-209.
(7) Ibid., p. 23.
