We’re often asked if we’ve seen a pattern of success among the many thousands of entrepreneurs and creatives we’ve interviewed over the years and when we say yes, folks naturally ask what it takes to succeed and without a doubt one of the most essential ingredients for success is optimism. Cynics may often be right, but it’s only when an optimist is right that the world changes. Below, you’ll find more discussion around optimism and how to develop and foster it.
Gigi Reedy
I’ve always been a fairly optimistic person but I don’t think it was until I really started learning about manifestation that it became a staple in my life. I believe we can help shape the world around us with our mindset. If you’re focusing on the negative then anything negative or hard that happens will serve as confirmation. And vice versa. Read More>>
Shelli Bradley
I honestly believe I was born with optimism. As far as I can remember, I’ve always looked at the positive in every situation. As I’ve gotten older, of course I have my moments of the negative and sit in it for a second because I’m allowed to feel my feelings. Read More>>
Ella Jen
Ever since I was just a child, I always believed that just because you have a bad day, that doesn`t really mean you have to make someone else`s day bad as well. This world already is full of bad things so trying to stay positive and sharing the positivity among others is literally the least you could do. Read More>>
Phil Ben-Ezra
Just over a year ago I had a huge health scare. I had a 98% blockage in my artery that very quickly could have killed me. In that moment I took stock of everything I had – my family, kids, businesses I built, and realized I have so much work to still do. I need to be here for my 6 kids. Read More>>
SHANNON BALENCIAGA
My optimism comes from survival and faith. I’ve lived through moments that should have broken me, moments where giving up would have been the easiest option and yet I’m still here. Every time I’ve made it through something I thought I wouldn’t, it reinforced the belief that tomorrow can be better than today. It also comes from purpose. Read More>>
Jessica Abreu
My optimism comes from a combination of curiosity, resilience, and a deep belief in the potential of people and ideas. I’ve always been drawn to seeing what’s possible rather than what’s limiting, whether it’s in business, creativity, or personal growth. Read More>>
Emanuel Millar
At an early age I learned to turn to God. I had a situation happen one night when I was 16, where a dark shadow with piercing red eyes entered my bedroom and stood at the foot of my bed. I knew I wasn’t dreaming as it began to slowly lift the foot of my bed. Read More>>
Kikue Misite
My optimism was built through practice – reading books on mindset, listening to audio from inspiring people, surrounding myself with positive energy, and being intentional about not feeding into negative people or thoughts. We all have the conscious choice to look for gratitude, growth, or understanding in every situation. Read More>>
Lehna Huie
I feel divinely inspired by all that surrounds me. I am constantly captivated by how nature interacts with us and the world. Each season brings new growth and potential to embrace. So often, we forget that we too are a part of nature’s cycles. These cycles help us understand our interconnectedness with the world. Read More>>
Lydia Reed
When people ask where my optimism comes from, I think it really stems from the nature of running my own agency. At LPR Agency, I’m not just the person behind the scenes, I’m essentially the whole engine. Read More>>
Wanda Richardson
My optimism is a product of my life experiences. We are all born as clean slates—free from worry, trauma, and distrust, filled with joy and an innate ability to see the world’s beauty. As I grew from a child into an adult, I began to see the cracks in this veneer, witnessing a life that was often ugly, violent, and sad. Read More>>
Claire Smith
I believe my optimism comes from my childhood. I grew up in a home where optimism was common place and it just became part of my DNA. Life’s thrown some challenges my way – becoming a parent completely turned my world upside down in the best possible way. Read More>>
Kelly Elsas
Thank you again for having me! For me, it’s really intentional. I think we can choose to see the good in each situation, accept when a situation is a total loss and hope for better in the future. I also believe optimism attracts positive energy and makes space for better experiences to fall into your life. Read More>>
Olivia Zugay
My optimism comes from a hard-earned understanding that life almost never unfolds according to plan. For a long time, I measured my life against timelines I thought I should be meeting: where I should be by a certain age, what success was supposed to look like, how quickly things were meant to happen. When reality didn’t match those expectations, it was discouraging. Read More>>
Camen Moore
My optimism comes from hope for a better day. Over the past few decades as a society, have become so numb to negativity and reoccurring atrocities. And it’s hard to see positivity in our world. My hope is to inspire others and help others experience a difference tomorrow through art, being kind to others, and telling my testimony. Read More>>
Derrick Ames
Finding my optimism was always a difficult situation for me. I always tried to adapt from a glass half empty or a it is what it is approach to always trying to see the best in whatever I do. Read More>>
Dr. Tyler Holt
Do you know it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile? My Father was a pessimist. So many times he would say things couldn’t be done, or wouldn’t work, or that’s not the right way to do it. It was just draining, and I saw how it wore him down. I resolved to find the good in any situation. Read More>>
Katie Thomas
It may sound cheesy or cliche, but my optimism comes from the Lord. I would not be where I am today without His promises that He has kept–and that is that He WILL sustain me. Read More>>
Grace Pramuk
As someone who has fallen into years of feeling like the world is filled with great voids of darkness where all seems hopeless, I strive to find the moments and people in my life that give me hope for a brighter future. Read More>>
Kasey Wilson
You know, my optimism is really a reflection of both my parents. My dad, a hardworking contractor, always found a positive angle, no matter how tough things got. Once as a kid I wrecked my scooter going to the dentist between football practices and was worried my dad would be upset—he just told me, “It’s just metal and plastic. Read More>>
Ether Glory
It’s a mix of deep gratitude, Universal Law, practices that foster healthy spiritual hygiene, and uplifting community/like-minded circle. Read More>>
Tingting Wu
Thank you for having me back for a second interview with Bold Journey. It’s a privilege to be invited again by a media outlet I truly respect — and perhaps this already explains part of my optimism. When you stay committed to meaningful work, opportunities naturally return. Read More>>
Annette Ridge
My optimism was born in the dark. Not the quiet kind of dark, but the kind that presses against your skin and makes you question your place in the world. I know what the bottom looks like, the kind of low where you stop pretending and start surviving. The kind where every voice around you tells you what you’re not, while your own voice is fighting just to be heard. Read More>>
