Betting on the Brightside: Developing and Fostering Optimism

Optimism is like magic – it has the power to make the impossible a reality because it gives folks to courage and motivation to try. If there is one thing we believe everyone should guard with their life, it’s their optimism and so we asked some of the most optimistic folks we know to talk to us about how they developed their optimism.

Carlton Rashad

First, thank you for this opportunity to share my story with you. Growing up, I was always so happy and jovial. I was always smiling and talking to people. I think that stems from feeling the love of my mother, who raised me and two my brothers by herself. While it may have been hard for her at times, she never withheld her love, attention, and intentional time from us. Because of her love, and teaching me to be kind to others, treat others the way I want to be treated, believe in myself and my dreams – It just stuck with me. Read more>>

Amanda Hornberger

I’ve always been an optimistic person by nature. But nothing tested that attitude more than when I lost all my work and my apartment during the pandemic in 2020. Because I was a gigging musician, theatre performer, and tarot card reader at the time of the shutdowns, I lost everything overnight. My work depended on people gathering in large groups. Suddenly, I found myself at the end of my lease with nowhere to go. I was living in Orlando, FL, at the time and because I had been an independent contractor, it took months for any type of relief payment to come through. I became seriously depressed. Read more>>

Sunny Doench Stricker

My optimism comes from my brilliant, kind and hilarious folks who always chose to see the good side and who taught me that we are all connected. They taught me, by their example, how important it is to always show up with love and kindness, assuming everyone is doing their best. My Mom & Dad had such a fearlessness about kindness and a tremendous commitment to inclusion. I have seen how embracing that same fearless intent to bring love & kindness into my work and passion projects has bridged me with so many colleagues who could’ve otherwise been considered “competitors”. Read more>>

Cassandra “cassie” Karch

The year is 2006 and I am a single mother of 5 working at my uncle’s locksmith shop. My only goal at the time was to own a home and provide something with longevity for my kids, in case anything happened to me. I started meeting with a real estate agent and shortly after was approved for an 80/20 home loan. At the time, I didn’t realize that this was predatory in nature, and I should have never been approved because I didn’t qualify, but the loan company pushed it through anyway. We got the house, but I would soon realize that this “favor” they did for me would aid in my downfall. Fast forward to the beginning of 2008, during the housing crisis, I was laid off. Read more>>

Nicole Monahan

My optimism stems from a period in my life that seemed hopeless and was so hard. Through that need to survive, I learned that there is no reason to be upset about things we have no control over and the things we do have control over, we can change. The rest, is up to us to decide how we look at it. Our reaction to the unfortunate event or hard circumstance will either make the event more hard or less hard. The best thing is to try and see the positive in situations and to respond with grace and a level head. It will get better, and better much more fast with an optimistic attitude because you can see what can be. Read more>>

Ramon Lyons

I believe my optimism stems from my upbringing and the daily affirmations I received growing up. This equipped with a unique perspective of the world which gave me the ability to come into situations with humility and gratitude. I’ve always been someone who looks at the positive sides of things because I know that I’m strong enough to achieve whatever I set my mind to. It’s just a matter of time and patience. Read more>>

Gulim Sadigozha

My optimism stems from the belief that challenges are not obstacles, but opportunities for personal growth. I believe that every experience, even the negative ones, teaches us something valuable and brings us closer to our goals. Being surrounded by creative people, continuously growing, and seeking new knowledge fuels my energy and faith in a brighter future. For me, optimism is a conscious choice that helps me see possibilities where others see difficulties. Read more>>

Kiana Lane

I really like this question! A few years ago I would have said it’s because I’ve been through a lot in life, but I want to reshape the narrative and say that I’ve had a lot of experiences that have forced me to look at the brighter side of every situation I’ve been in & realize that LITERALLY everything happens for a reason and is being aligned to work in my highest good. One of my favorite quotes is “the universe will give you whatever experience necessary for the evolution of your consciousness” and it’s something I live by. Read more>>

Mary Paige Snell

I believe my optimism may be genetic. My mother was a fierce conductor. Being as there were very few, if any, female conductors in her time- she basically created local community events to conduct. As well, she conducted alone, all the time in the house, studying recordings and scores. The strange thing was, from my perspective, I thought she had not fulfilled herself. When she was dying, and I heard how seriously she took herself, and how brilliant she believed she was. (She was brilliant) I had to completely change my perspective of how her life had unfolded. As well, to the end, she would stare out her window with wonder and amazement. I had a mother who didn’t need much, who took herself very seriously, and who treasured herself and her abilities, whether anyone else did, or not. This seems to me to be optimism. Read more>>

Lynn Giunta

I think that I have naturally always been an optimistic person. As I started to explore what my artistic voice was outside of my job, I realized that I am drawn to hope and positivity, that I love to do collage, and I especially like to do word collages. I never intentionally realized that was what I was practicing, but it just kept happening time and time again, until I realized this is who I am. And just like anything—when you practice something a lot, it becomes part of your identity. Practicing happiness and purposefully looking for things that bring me joy—has made me see those things first. I have a really hard time staying upset or angry about anything—the joy and gratitude in my life kind of push any negative thoughts away. Read more>>

Jessica Pena

I think at first glance I give the impression of being optimistic and day-brightener. I think that coming from a hard background made me look for the good things in life. Growing up in a very conservative surrounding forced me to hide myself, be considered “shy”, and felt the pressure of trying to fit in a “mold” where I did not fit. Traveling, meeting new people, and depending on myself taught me it was okay to ask for help, to create community, and to open up more to those close around me. It was through those hardships that I found the joys of day-to-day life, where I also understood that it was okay not to be okay. I hope my art softens the hardships of early adulthood and brightens the day-to-day lives of dreamers and those young at heart, bringing joy and positivity, even in a fast-paced, late-stage capitalistic world. Read more>>

Hassanen Attabi

I’ve always been fascinated with the weight that every day of life carries. I’d sit and wonder “What will my most important day be?”. For awhile, past experiences came to mind: Immigrating to the United States, becoming a Marine, or receiving a cash-filled envelope from my first acting job (Which is still hung up on my cork board, with no intention of using it). Read more>>

Ned Dehan

When I was growing up, no one ever believed me. Perhaps my grandmother did, but that’s about it. Everyone else always told me that I would fail without them. But I remember being a kid…watching TV, listening to the radio, reading books, and even listening to stories on audio cassettes in 90’s. I remember thinking…I can do this. Optimism comes from learning, observing, trying, focusing on your strength, and ignoring the naysayers. Read more>>

Borui Jiang

I believe my optimism stems from the inherent uncertainty of life. It’s true that uncertainty can bring anxiety and fear, emotions often labeled as negative. But at the same time, uncertainty is also where hope arises. The unknown holds possibilities, and those possibilities can align with what I desire. Once I recognize that something has even a small chance of happening, I choose to believe in that potential. Read more>>

Qianying Zhu

My optimism didn’t always come naturally. In fact, I went through a long period of inner struggle and anxiety. Back then, I constantly questioned myself, feeling like I wasn’t good enough, always chasing an ideal version of myself or a future that seemed out of reach. I was always rushing—changing my style, trying new forms of self-expression, but feeling uneasy all the time, like no matter what I did, I was far from the place I wanted to be. That inner turmoil drained me emotionally and mentally.
But as I continued on my journey in art, especially during the process of creating, I started to change. Read more>>

Bruno Martinez

My optimism comes from the constant innovation In the creative and digital spaces, where design continuously evolves to shape how people experience brands. I’ve had the privilege of working with platforms like Ezze Live, where we merged creativity, technology, and commerce to engage users and empower them to leverage their potential. Seeing how a well-executed design can build a brand’s identity, create meaningful connections, and drive growth is incredibly inspiring. Each project, from live events to cross-platform campaigns, reinforces the impact that thoughtful, strategic design can have on businesses and communities. That potential for meaningful change, combined with the endless possibilities in digital and experiential design, keeps me optimistic about the future of creative work. Read more>>

Declan Rhodes

I would say my optimism stems from a few places. First and foremost, it started with my parents. Ever since I can remember, my parents have instilled in me a sense of worth and confidence that I try to share with the world. Growing up, I was very studious in school and liked to be the top of my class with grades and assignments. Although my parents pushed me to be and do the best I could academically, they also let me know it was okay to make mistakes and fumble every once in a while. Being the oldest sibling, I definitely set the tone for the rest of my siblings when it came to academic achievement and pushing yourself to reach your full potential. Read more>>

Anna Pasztor

I come from a diverse family; my parents had almost opposing personalities and came from different backgrounds. Over the years, I have thought a lot about them, and one of the few things I have found in common is that they both endured serious hardships. Despite this, they loved life and were full of energy, jokes, and playfulness, which was a frequent occurrence in our home. Therefore, I would say that my optimism comes from my upbringing. Additionally, being an eclectic person and enjoying a variety of things also contributes to my optimism.  Read more>>

Narcotics Division

We cipher the energy from our secular denomination of prophets, consisting of: Reverend Barndog Jones, Saint Shitty Kitty, Disciple Noir, Apostles Dequarius Uzemaka Ice, Pussy Man Fij, Rock N’ Roll Gangsta, Spermy Jermy, Daniel the Drummer, Bjorg John, Cricka Crap, Cameron the cocaine bear, and Car Paul. Read more>>

Priyanka Kothari

I learned a crucial lesson from my mother: time is precious and does not wait for anyone. Growing up in a conservative joint family of 16 in India was challenging, but it instilled in me a sense of perseverance and determination. My mother supported me as I navigated the traditional expectations placed on women in society. Although it was disheartening at times to negotiate life decisions with relatives who weren’t part of my immediate family, facing a tough environment instilled in me a tenacity to fight against the odds, even when it became exhausting. Read more>>

Alberta Genero

Honestly, my self-discipline comes from **experience and necessity**. I’ve been a personal trainer for many years, and I know firsthand that change doesn’t happen overnight. In my twenties, I went through a phase of hopping between extreme diets and quick fixes, chasing fast results—and guess what? It left me frustrated, burnt out, and right back where I started. I realized that if I wanted real, lasting change, I had to **ditch shortcuts and build something sustainable**. Read more>>

Karis Noelle

Oh, where does my self-discipline come from? Well, funny enough, it all began with countless hours of Irish dancing—12 years, in fact, of being a competitive Irish dancer. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “What on earth does leaping around in hard shoes have to do with running a residential cleaning business?” But stick with me! Read more>>

Tricia Brown

I don’t think self-discipline magically appears. Rather, it develops through time in a reward system that proves the worthiness of “doing it right.” Right, as in preparing a night early for the tasks of the next day, making one’s bed in the morning, clearing a workspace before beginning a new project, taking care of your tools so they’ll perform for you when you need them. There’s a bit of smug satisfaction as well as great stress reduction when you’ve made the path easier for the future you. Read more>>

Greg Murray

That’s a great question. Honestly, self-discipline has fluctuated throughout my life. What I’ve come to realize is that my discipline is strongest when I’m deeply connected to a tangible mission or purpose. When I know exactly what I’m working toward, discipline feels less like a chore and more like aligning my actions with something bigger—something that makes even the smallest tasks feel significant. In this way self discipline moves from a chore to a motivator. Read more>>