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Are Fijians an Optimistic People?
When thinking of Fijians, an image of a jovial, amiable, and hospitable community often comes to mind. Their renowned warmth and zest for life paint a vibrant picture of an island culture that embraces everyone with open arms.
While their cheerful demeanour is evident, a more profound query arises: Are Fijians inherently optimistic?
Optimism is a belief that good things will happen and that things will work out in the end.
Undoubtedly, Fijians are happy and friendly, but are they also optimistic?
Graham Dooley, a board member of the Water Authority of Fiji, said to me, "Absolutely, the Fijians are an optimistic people." (See Graham Dooley: An Optimist's Eye to Fiji's Water Supply and Sanitation)
Roland De Marco, former Fiji National University Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation, told me, "Fijians have a deep connection to their spirituality, families and communities and possess a strong sense of fun and enjoyment. Accordingly, they are happy people with a strong sense of optimism about their past, present and future. I hasten to add that Fijians are also boldly ambitious and ready to tackle grand global challenges associated with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), such as Climate Action, Clean Water and Sanitation, Life Below Water, Life on Land, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Reduced Inequalities, Quality Education together with Good Health and Well-Being among others."
A joyful spirit usually associated with optimism manifests in several Fijian cultural traditions:
- Greetings with "Bula!": Translating to "life" or "liveliness", this greeting encapsulates Fijians' wishes for vitality and hope for others.
- Gift-Giving Tradition: Beyond mere material exchanges, Fijians see gift-giving as a gesture of love, appreciation, and undying support.
- Traditional Dance and Music: These art forms are joyful celebrations of life, teeming with energy and reflecting the Fijians' zest for life.
- Rugby as a Reflection: A revered sport, rugby sees Fijian players showcasing their prowess, determination, and resilience, epitomising the nation's optimistic spirit.
- Reverence for the Elderly: This respect helps to foster hope and forward-looking attitudes in upcoming generations.
- Spiritual Faith: A profound spiritual belief system provides Fijians solace during challenging times, guiding them towards purpose and meaning. It's a cornerstone of the nation's pervasive optimism.
Bula as a Source of Optimism
One of the practices we suggest in most environments is an upbeat greeting to lift joy and optimism, suggesting to Australians they replace "How are You?" with "What's been the best thing in your day?"
Bula as a greeting meets that need in the Fijian context. Tourism Fiji CEO Brent Hill shared with me his insight, "The essence of Fiji's optimism is embodied by the Bula spirit and cultural values that contribute to a profound sense of happiness and community.... So, when you hear "Bula!" in Fiji, it's an invitation to experience the genuine optimism and happiness that define this nation." (Read More: Fijian Optimism: Tourism Fiji)
Managing Director of Matchboard, Sharon Melamed, said to me, "This Bula spirit and optimism is not just a feel-good. It's a Fijian comparative advantage in business as it powers Fiji's outsourcing customer service business processes. I didn’t truly get it till I went to Fiji for a holiday and experienced their warm and authentic service myself." (See Sharon's essay "61 Essential Facts about Outsourcing to Fiji")
So, too, my friend, Seamus Scanlon, Senior Partner Davidson, told me, “Enjoy Fiji's vibrant culture, natural beauty, and warm hospitality, where infectious laughter and happiness are a way of life, and every 'Bula' reflects the island's friendly and optimistic outlook on the world.”
Family
Graham Dooley puts it well, "The fundamental building block of society in Fiji culture is a strong family group supporting an optimistic outlook on life."
Alopi Latukefu, Director of the Edmund Campion Centre, provided insight into this sentiment in the broader context of the Pacific community. "Pacific optimism is founded on a resilience built on confidence grounded in the extended family (in Tonga - Kainga, in Samoa- aiga, in Fiji - vuvale). It is this non-material safety net that can be transported wherever you go, providing a solid foundation on which to build optimism."
This profound insight echoed my observations in Samoa, which I've articulated in "Liquid Optimism: Samoa Reflections."
Alopi further elaborated, "There's a cultural mechanism in place that deals with tragedy or loss in a compartmentalised manner. The support from the extended family ensures that what might lead to malaise in a Western context is simply not acceptable in the Pacific. There are familial responsibilities that narrow the space for pessimism to creep in."
Not Everyone is an Optimist
Admittedly, Fijians aren't exempt from the spectrum of human emotions like any other community. With a population over 900,000, uniformity in opinion is unlikely, and a significant number may possess a genetic or adopted pessimistic mindset.
In the context of my homeland, Australia, there's a palpable difference between how many feel optimism personally yet express disenchantment with national and global institutions. At The Centre for Optimism, we are delving deeper into this dichotomy: the optimism for oneself and those close, juxtaposed with optimism for the nation and the world.
During my research for this article, several individuals expressed reservations, with views tainted by the country's politics or experiences in public service. On the other hand, Graham Dooley made it plain, "There is a spirit of optimism and a spirit of reform that comes from the government and the ministers."
Why is this optimism discourse so pivotal? In health realms, optimism is the crucial trait of healthy longevity. At the community level, it forms the backbone of progressive 2020s leadership and resilience. Economically, optimism lays the groundwork for strategic efficacy, spurs innovation, drives transformation, and epitomises the entrepreneurial spirit.
In synthesising these insights, Fijians epitomise an optimistic and joyful life. Their perspective isn't fleeting; it's deeply interwoven with societal values, reverence for nature, and future aspirations. While sustaining optimism amidst adversities is challenging, Fijians showcase that with a collective spirit, respect for nature, and unwavering hope, optimism can genuinely define one's way of life.
Perspectives
Graham Dooley: An Optimist's Eye to Fiji's Water Supply and Sanitation
Roland De Marco, former Fiji National University Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation, told me, "Fijians have a deep connection to their spirituality, families and communities and possess a strong sense of fun and enjoyment. Accordingly, they are happy people with a strong sense of optimism about their past, present and future. I hasten to add that Fijians are also boldly ambitious and ready to tackle grand global challenges associated with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), such as Climate Action, Clean Water and Sanitation, Life Below Water, Life on Land, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Reduced Inequalities, Quality Education together with Good Health and Well-Being among others."
Alopi Latukefu, Director of the Edmund Campion Centre: "Pacific optimism is founded on a resilience built on confidence grounded in the extended family (in Tonga - Kainga, in Samoa- aiga, in Fiji - vuvale). It is this non-material safety net that can be transported wherever you go, providing a solid foundation on which to build optimism."
"There's a cultural mechanism in place that deals with tragedy or loss in a compartmentalised manner. The support from the extended family ensures that what might lead to malaise in a Western context is simply not acceptable in the Pacific. There are familial responsibilities that narrow the space for pessimism to creep in."
"As we explore future projects in this beautiful and unique country, we’re highly optimistic about the prospects." (Seacology on Fiji)
"To sum up 850,000 people in a few paragraphs does not do the Fiji Islands justice, which is why you need to come and experience Fiji and its people to completely understand. However, we still want to give you an idea of what amazingly optimistic and multicultural the Fijian people are. Over half of the Fiji population lives below the poverty line; however, you would never guess it by their big Bula smiles. The favourable climate makes food pretty plentiful and Fijians’ family and community values of sharing everything make living here the ideal island life." (Feejeeperience)
"One (tactic) we developed early on was to always be optimistic. This was so helpful. We weren’t being positive for the sake of it, we always had to be two steps ahead. If the Government said at any point we’re going to open next week, we had to be ready. This meant we planned in an optimistic way." Tourism Fiji’s Emma Campbell on reopening after the COVID pandemic."
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