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Being in your 30s can be a tumultuous time, but Zara Noor Abbas is chasing hope as she aims to join the “little cult of optimism”.

In a note on her Instagram story penned “strictly for millennial consumption”, Abbas said that she was never a fan of optimism and was “guilty of laughing at motivational videos, poking fun at podcasts,” which she admits she might have parodied.

“As a raging millennial, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed walking under a looming cloud of self-deprecation, followed by a downpour of despair. Honestly, I thrive in it. It’s very Tumblr of me.”

However, the actor said that despite never being a fan of optimism, her 30s were “ridiculously grounding” because it helped people get a fair assessment of the lives they’ve built and become acutely aware of everything one needs to do to live life the way they want.

“Awareness is a b***h. You wish you knew yourself a little less — that maybe the self needed to be left alone, just a bit. Knowing too much activates the part of your brain that likes to simplify.”

Abbas continued that since she knew her kicks and ifs and whys and buts, she could save herself from any impending unpleasantness, which was an exciting prospect for her.

“All this knowledge of self cannot go unused, come on! I channel most of it into hope: hope to appreciate how far I’ve come despite all the cynicism, and hope to see how far I can go with a tad more clarity.”

She ended her note by adding that she was surprisingly hopeful. We absolutely love the energy she’s bringing into her 30s!