Optimism is the invisible ingredient that powers so much of the incredible progress in society – from entrepreneurs and investors to artists and creatives who believe in something and are optimistic enough to risk their time, money, and reputation. We asked some of the most optimistic folks we know where they think they get their optimism form.
April Alsup
My mother had a saying “if you don’t have something good to say don’t say it.” She would always say it to me when she felt I was being toxic about someone or something. She believed it was important to respect other people’s opinion and for me to know how to best interact with the people around me. We all interpret the things we say a bit differently. Read More>>
Kéo
I think we spend about 90% of our time worrying about things that either haven’t happen or will never happen. We can be our own worst enemy or biggest advocate. Which sounds cliché, but it really is true that we create our own reality. Read More>>
Amanda Gutierrez
Once I figured out that your mentality can literally make or break you, that was such a game changer. I try to stay positive and surround myself with other positive people. I TRY not to sweat the small stuff (that is still a work in progress). Life is too short to worry about all the negative things that could weigh you down. Read More>>
Terron Sims, II
I have been blessed throughout my life. Many times, since I first applied to West Point in 1994, what I wanted professionally, I did not attain, yet the actual outcome was much better than if I had attained what I wanted. It took several supposed setbacks and failures for me to understand that I was better off not “getting what I wanted”. Read More>>
Danielle Taylor
To be plain about it… I think optimism is probably 20% cerebral and about 80% experiential. Meaning, you’re kinda born with it, but it’s continually reinforced experiences that solidify you as an optimist. Read More>>
Jessica Phillips
Optimism is to have a positive mindset; to trust and believe in a successful outcome. For me, that comes from God as well as my upbringing. My grandparents made sure to always work hard and give their best; if you don’t do that how can you conquer the positive outcome that you want? By working hard and then adding faith that God will see it to fruition – that’s a mighty powerful thing. Read More>>
Carly Stone
I believe that my optimism comes from my parents and how I was raised. My mom and dad are both very positive, happy people and I constantly hear the phrase “anything is possible!” and “you can do anything you set your mind to,” to this day. Read More>>
Darryl Tombleson
Ever since I can recall, at the age of 5 years, from recollection, looking across the vast green fields of home, thinking, wow, there’s a huge world out there I want to escape to, and explore. I’ve maintained this incredible desire to wander the world, as a solo gypsy of sorts, and nurture an insatiable appetite to be creative in every aspect of my life. Read More>>
Carl Nyberg
I believe one of my strongest traits when it comes to seeing optimism is being able to view different obstacles and topics through different lenses. This allows me to be able to pivot or adjust based on the circumstances to ultimate reach a goal, even though it may not be the exact same goal as originally intended. Read More>>
Melanie Stringer
i mostly act, sing, model.. exec produce my projects.. im not sure what to say except if you’d like to enjoy my work go to badappleella.com .. any and all support is appreciated! Read More>>
Melissa Dusenberry
My family, friends, and community have always been a beacon during dark times, reminding me of what is possible. Optimism is a conscious choice, but having people in my world who believe in me, guide me, and inspire me is quite literally the magic of it all. Read More>>
PHOBIK
Practice. It’s pretty tough in the times we are living in, optimism can be abundant when you switch your perspective and start having gratitude for the daily things in our lives like a home, food and health. Appreciating the opportunity to be able to do what i do everyday has been a small slice of optimism that in dark times has kept me going. But also knowing that everything is temporary. Read More>>
J Ryan Stradal
I’m a fairly optimistic person, and I believe that it comes from my parents, each of whom proved to me multiple times throughout my childhood and teenage years that it’s never too late to change your life for the better. Most consequentially, they each returned to college as adults (they were 35 and 47, respectively) to complete the Bachelor’s degrees they’d abandoned after military service took my dad overseas. Read More>>
Lauren Harris
As a wife, with 4 children, a full-time job, and a dog…not to mention friendships to maintain, hobbies to keep up with and simply time for myself, life balance was quite a challenge for me. I struggled with leaving work at work, with spending quality time with family and maintaining relationships with friends. For years I couldn’t understand how to fix it. Read More>>
Lizzie Brown
When I was young, probably about 12 years old, I was approached by a guidance counselor at school. He was expressing concern because he thought it odd that I was so positive. He asked me, “How are things at home?” to which I responded with some of the challenges I was facing with my family. Read More>>
Jenny Drew Oubari
I definitely feel like I got my optimism from my family, particularly my mom. My family has just always supported everything that I want to do so wholeheartedly, which always makes me optimistic that I can be successful, that I can make anything happen. Read More>>
Gianna Salazar
I’m naturally a very optimistic person and I grew up in an environment where my optimism was encouraged and supported. My mom has always been my biggest supporter and she taught me from a young age that the only thing that could stop me from from doing/being what I want in life was myself. Read More>>
Ben Reynolds
It’s easier to be pessimistic than optimistic. Pessimists don’t have to deal with the pain of disappointment because they already expect negative outcomes. But pessimism is self-defeating. Why try if you don’t believe something has at least a decent shot of working? Read More>>
Susie Koh
Continuing to say positive words brings a good vibe. Thankfully, I’ve heard a lot that my natural personality is optimistic. So, in any situation, I tend to think positively and vaguely have a mind that says, “It’s gonna work out in the end!” It’s like putting up a spell. If I keep repeating to myself that good things will happen, I feel confident, and without my intention, everything flows in a positive direction. Read More>>
Jasimin Hall
Despite the demands of being an entrepreneur and raising three children, I remain resilient and draw my boundless optimism from the unwavering love and support of my family, whom empower me to radiate positivity in all facets of life. Read More>>
Lexie Wroten
I find my optimism by constantly looking for the silver lining in things. I try not to get wrapped up in perfection. When I was a child and I was faced with a difficult task, my dad would always ask me, “Well did you try your best?” and now even as an adult, that voice echos in my head as I face difficult things as an adult. Read More>>
Lida Djarar Fischer
My optimism is rooted in my understanding of life’s inherent duality. I believe that life is a combination of both highs and lows. While I appreciate and embrace the moments of positivity and joy, I’m also aware that life can be challenging and difficult at times. I believe in being honest about this reality rather than pretending that every day is fantastic. Read More>>
Elsay Yoder
For me, my optimism has always been apart of me. Before being adopted and moving to America in 2007, I lived with my family in Ethiopia. I was young at the time, so I didn’t learn much of my family members personality, but one thing I know was that my father was a positive man. Read More>>
Meechh
My optimistic spirit stems from how I was raised as a child. My family taught me that no matter what cards you were dealt you have to keep pushing. I am who I am today, Thanks to my Dad’s calmness and my Mom’s encouraging words in the most chaotic of environments. Read More>>
Simon Davies
Life is full of challenges and obstacles, many of which appear insurmountable at times. Its a question of believing that there is a way to overcome them and having the patience and determination to make it happen. When Teen Cancer America started 11 years ago there were no programs specifically designed for young people with cancer. Read More>>
Andres Obelmejias Lattanzio
When working in a team environment (which is the case for the majority of entertainment work) one can easily succumb to the usual “jaded-ness” and skepticism that one frequently encounters from peers in this industry. When in high stress projects, I’ve noticed that if one gives in and contributes too much to that energy, it doesn’t help anyone and makes the working environment perpetually stressful for everybody involved. Read More>>
Diana Corpus
Life experiences is where I earned my optimism. Childhood trauma, romantic breakups, loss of friendships, school, there are numerous topics to cover, but I went to therapy for almost a year. I became grounded and learned about self-love and slowly I blossomed into having a positive mindset. Once I changed my negative mindset into a positive one, my life completely changed for the better. Read More>>
Angela Henderson
I’ve always had a positive outlook on everything in my day to day life. I definitely owe having this trait from my Mom. If things don’t go quite my way I view it as a learning experience or temporary setback. Read More>>
Amelia Mirabello
I am a firm believer in the power of positive thinking, gratitude, and resilience. Throughout my career I have learned that when I am faced with challenges, it is best to look for the silver lining or potential opportunities for growth. Read More>>
