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.
Michelle Conarty
Life is unpredictable. Like many others, I have learned this over the years starting at the age of 5, when my parents divorced. My older sister and I were confused, devastated and saddened, and it seemed as though the world was ending. Read more>>
Taesjah Tucker
My Optimism comes from me always having a positive mindset towards anything I try to achieve . I also believe when u go into a situation with a negative mindset that’s what you’re going to get but having a positive mindset the outcome may be different and regardless i remain Optimistic. Read more>>
Victoria Mahdieh
Being grateful and counting your blessings, is a great contributor to optimism. I start each day giving thanks for all that God has done in my life. It truly helps to see the bright side of things. Even though every day is not filled with ‘sunshine and roses’ , staying optimistic is having faith that God will work out our circumstances for the good. Read more>>
Alice Halvorson
I think I was born with an innate sense of positivity. Growing up, I don’t remember ever feeling an acute or prolonged sense that things will go bad. Maybe this was due to my parents having high expectations for success and, let’s face it, that doesn’t generally coincide with pessimism. Read more>>
Brandi Swanson
As a professional Wedding Planner, it is imperative that I have optimism. Brides and Grooms need their Team Leader to have confidence about their wedding day. They need someone whose number one goal is to view and produce a successful event. Read more>>
Dan Radin
Growing up, I spent a LOT of time with my mom. She was a stay-at-home mom who jumped on every chance she could to teach her eldest child (me) a tangible skill or impart certain wisdom. I picked up everything she put down. And to this day, she continues to be one of the most optimistic people I know. Read more>>
Carlie Lara
My optimism comes from my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Apart from Him, my heart and emotions go up and down with the seasons of life. However, because He came to The Earth, lived the perfect life I couldn’t live, died the death I deserve because of my sin, but defeated death by rising 3 days later, I am forever saved and will get to be with Him forever in heaven! Read more>>
Cassidy Burel
It is a joy to get to create every day. Fashion design has been my absolute passion for as long as I can remember. When I launched my business In North Carolina, I was concerned there wouldn’t be enough demand for the custom apparel designing that I have to offer. But what a fabulous turn of events it is that I was wrong. Read more>>
Cindy Eggleton
My optimism comes from seeing the change that communities are able to achieve for themselves. Both on a large scale, but also on a family level. Through Brilliant Detroit, I see people growing and breaking the cycles of poverty and education inequity that are so challenging to overcome. Read more>>
Mike Dawsy” Dawson”
I believe that growing up in New England, with a humble background having worked hard for everything I have ever earned and accomplished in life since a very young age, enables me to understand that its all about hard work. The cliche of “what you put into something is what you get out” couldn’t be more accurate. When you put your absolute everything into something, no matter what it is, you will have a positive successful out come. Read more>>
Donna Benedicto
There were aspects of my childhood that forced me to adapt the way I thought about obstacles. My parents were young immigrants who worked incredibly hard to raise my brother and I while trying to create a good life in a new country. I grew up watching them sacrifice and struggle, and that made me appreciative of all the small victories that came from their hard work. Read more>>
Chelsea Parrish
Above all things I am an optimist, meaning at my core I am hopeful and confident about the future. I think it comes from my ability to hold onto small wins instead of waiting for big ones, which then makes it easier to focus on the long haul and never give up. I’m also a New Yorker living in LA and after years of walking miles around Manhattan everyday, taking a walk around my neighborhood in the morning is just part of my routine now. Read more>>
Nikki O’Brien
My optimism is my personal rebellion in a system that profits from procuring pessimism. Read more>>
Ebony Lemons
My optimism definitely comes from my parents, who have both passed on. Growing up, their struggles were apparent to me even as a child, but they always made a positive out of them for my siblings and me. Even when our electricity was shut off, my mom would do a living room sleepover with us by lighting candles, making pallets on the floor, and telling fun stories. Read more>>
Monika Angelini
Being optimistic hasn’t always been easy for me, when I was growing my parents were very strict. I was constantly seconded guessing myself and had low self esteem. I found that I was always thinking of the worst-case-scenario, before anything had even gone wrong. It felt like a dark raincloud followed me everywhere, casting a shadow on all the fun I could’ve been having. Read more>>
Ashley Thompson
My faith has a lot to do with cultivating my optimism. Naturally I’m a bubbly person and love to encourage others so I’m always looking for opportunities to uplift others. Even at times when I’m not feeling the best what keeps me thinking positive is what I choose to focus on and being intentional with who I connect. Read more>>
Latia Boggan
Being optimistic actually took work for me. I began by reading self-help books. They really help to reshape your mind which is the largest part of the battle. During this time, I read a book called the Four Agreements and it changed my life. Read more>>
Stacy Paul
I think I’m naturally a pretty optimistic person anyway, but I definitely remind myself daily to look for the positives. As it applies to wedding photography, I try to remind myself that when things go wrong, it generally opens creative doors. You just have to look for them. Read more>>
Rafael Diez
I had a great childhood. Read a lot of comic books, saw a lot of movies, made lots of friends, traveled around, grew up in a big family. I was always kind of a daydreamer, always in my little world, always drawing. Read more>>
Keith Kong
My optimism comes from understanding that perspective is the best tool that we have at our disposal when it comes to our control over happiness. I remember being very young when I first heard my grandmother say, “I don’t cry over spilled milk”. When I asked what that meant, she explained that somethings just aren’t worth getting upset over. It was enough to crystalize my understanding that we have a choice. Read more>>
Marwan Nassar
“It’s getting better all the time… because it can’t get much worse”. That is one of my favorite quotes from the Beatles. The story goes that as they were songwriting, Paul Mcartney started to sing “it’s getting better alll the time”, to which John Lennon immediately responded with the second part of the quote. Read more>>
Heather Taft
Honestly, its a compulsion I have. Why not be optimistic? One of my favorite point of views are: They say “ohh, well what if things don’t work out? Then they stop right there and don’t even try and that opportunity immediately gets cut off . What if you turn around and entertain the idea and say, “well, what if it DOES work out?? Then what? Try pondering on the positive effect you’d get . Read more>>
Tori Gagne
I credit my upbringing, my family and my genes my for my optimistic nature. I am a middle child and have a kind of balanced approach to life. My father was an entrepreneur and a successful businessman who had me selling things door to door, and having a newspaper route when I was 11. Read more>>
Noble Holt
To be honest, my optimism comes from my mom. There were a lot of times during my childhood when we didn’t really have a lot and I know that seems to be the norm with working or lower class families but she would never let it show. Read more>>
Brad Chmielewski
Farming is always a tough occupation to try and be optimistic. There are a lot of thing that can go wrong, especially with specialty crop farming. I feel that I am always looking at the glass as half full. Read more>>
Caroline Clark
My optimism is rooted not in an unrealistically rosy view of the world, but rather in the belief that there is always the possibility for things to be better. Growing up, my mother could find a solution or do anything because she always trusted in her ability to figure things out, and she instilled that belief in my sister and me. Read more>>
Simone Leanora
For as long as I can remember people have described me as an “optimistic person.” At first, I didn’t understand what about ME made them feel that way. I didn’t feel that my optimism was any more or less than the next person, but the older I became, the more I noticed that for some, optimism is a hard trait to produce, to multiply and to keep the engine going. Read more>>
Adilene Rodriguez
Throughout my life, I have always had a glass half full kind attitude, which is not to say that I’ve had a perfect life, on the contrary, I’ve experienced many trials but I’ve never given up hope that things would work out in my favor. I’ve manifested so many wonderful things in my life by simply believing that they would happen so I’m a true believer that being optimistic in life is essential not only for personal satisfaction, but also for business success. Read more>>
Lana Nguyen
Our optimism thrives on the incredible people in our lives. Starting a business can be tough, and we’ve definitely faced doubts and imposter syndrome along the way. But having a circle of motivated supporters who believe in us keeps us positive and pushing forward! Read more>>
Stacey Flood
I am a positive person by nature. I stay positive by looking at the big picture and the desired end result. I focus on my clients and how I can assist them and bring organization to their life. Read more>>
Brian Spann
My optimism comes from my wife and my pastor. My wife lives with me and does an excellent job at keeping me balanced, and she shows great patience with me in helping me see things clearly, especially when things seem difficult. Read more>>
Lindsey Smith
I try to start every day full of optimism, potential for growth and change, and a positive outlook on immediate situations and people in my life. Optimism is something that has been an important part of who I am, ingrained in me from a very young age. When people around you are in a constant state of struggle, you have to remain positive to not fall into the trap of doubt, low self-esteem, and negativity. Read more>>
Shelby McKee
My dad, Jim Busemeyer, has been my biggest role model and who I attribute my optimism to in business and in life! My dad is the youngest of 10 kids, seven sisters and two brothers! They all grew up in a 2 bedroom house in Cincinnati, Ohio. My dad is one of a kind, let me tell you, someone you want to know and be around. Read more>>
Jacqualine Fermin
A huge part of it is who I’m surrounded by. My family is and always has been unbelievably supportive, and I have a great network of likeminded creatives. I’m someone that gets so excited thinking of all the possibilities there are within this life and my chosen career path. Read more>>
Demetrius Dumas
My optimism comes from knowing that every day is a new opportunity to be better than the day before. I can’t spend much time stressing over things I can’t control so I just always try to look at the good side of things, but take every experience for all the ups and downs that it offers me so I can continue to grow. I fostered this trait just growing up in Chicago raised by people who really wanted the best for me and would do anything to keep spirits high. Read more>>
TT
I’ve always considered myself an optimist, I have a tattoo on my leg that says “Keep going.” This tattoo serves as a reminder of my commitment to optimism, no matter the circumstances. There’s a quote from Steve Harvey that resonates with me: “If you’re going through hell, why would you stop in the middle of it?” Read more>>
Mareshia Adams
My optimism comes from my mental battle that I had suffered from in previous years. Read more>>
Ashley Kay
What’s interesting about this question is that back at the beginning of this year, God told me that my word for this year was Optimism. Understanding what it means to be just that and how to apply it to my journey has allowed me to become more aware of the words that I speak and the thoughts that I harbor. For instance, this year, I had two film projects, that I was cast for, put on hold for reasons that I obviously had no control over. Read more>>
Libby Bartley
Optimism for me is deeply tied to a sense of will. I’ve long held a clear vision of what I want in my life, and in moments where things seem to falter or fail, the fortitude to find a way to keep going is driven by the desire to accomplish the dreams that have guided everything I’ve done thus far in my life and career. Read more>>
Sherri Anne Austria-Portela
Optimism is like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day—it brightens everything up! It’s amazing how our mindset can shape our experiences. Choosing to focus on the positive and not getting bogged down by the negative is a powerful approach. It’s like having a pair of glasses that only allows us to see the beauty and potential in every situation. Read more>>
Kat Uyenco
My optimism stems from gratitude. Every morning, before I start my day, I meditate and remind myself of all the things that I have in my life that I feel lucky to have – fresh air to breathe, a cozy home, family, friends, good health, all the wonderful things. It allows me to start my day in the right mindset – full of gratitude and happiness. Read more>>
Olga Schmidt
The wellspring of my optimism originates from the conviction that we can build an ideal world. As I observe the current state of affairs, it becomes evident that a vast majority of people are actively seeking solutions to the worldwide crisis we confront. Our global economy is marked by instability, environmental pollution persists, the climate remains turbulent, and societal harmony eludes us due to the prevailing circumstances of humanity. Read more>>
Herberson Paul
The optimism comes from GOD. The Bible talks about how you think is how you’ll act. Of course the scripture has been reiterated but it’s all in the mindset. Whether I have a good or bad day, at the end of the day I just have to focused on being optimistic or I won’t be able to complete what I first started within the day or just completing the assignment. Read more>>
