We recently connected with Jennifer Cramer-Miller and have shared our conversation below.
Jennifer , so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
While I was growing up, my father modeled an optimistic approach to life, and I paid attention. He used a worry-reduction technique, effective for him as a builder, because he had to withstand many economic ups and downs in the volatile construction industry. His strategy was to accept the possibility of failure to clear the way for success.
I admired the way my father navigated life, but I didn’t fully appreciate the tools he’d shared until I faced an incurable autoimmune diagnosis at 22. As a college graduate, happy, healthy, ready to launch—my life suddenly veered off the expected path. Dad stood by my side and helped me set my course through positive thoughts and action. I’m grateful. Optimism amplifies my hope and confidence that despite challenges, good things are ahead.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m delighted to share what I’m up to! Hi everybody, I’m Jennifer Cramer-Miller, an author, speaker, and joy seeker. My newly released book, Incurable Optimist: Living with Illness and Chronic Hope, is a family love story, and it shines a light on the power of people helping people. I’m so honored Incurable Optimist has received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, an International Impact Award, a Book Excellence Award, and a BookFest First Place Award.
The accolades are lovely, but the most rewarding part is connecting with readers on the universal themes we share: how do we muddle through the uncertainties of life, foster optimism, and find joy? What a privilege to engage in thoughtful conversations with people and learn about their experiences. I believe we find ourselves in each other’s stories, and stories matter.
And now, I’m also launching a new journal. This is so exciting! The idea came directly from readers who said they don’t feel optimistic, but they’d like to. So, like my father did for me, modeling tools of positivity, I’m sharing my incurable optimist philosophy in a prompted journal called One Lovely Thing. It’s not a gratitude journal, per se. There are a lot of those lining store shelves. The One Lovely Thing journal is a place to be honest about the ups and downs in your days, including pages for a dammit dump to spill your hardships. But I believe, every day, (even lousy ones), there’s always one lovely thing. This journal also contains inspirational quotes and reflections on how we manage the beauty and bummers that are a part of life.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1. Believe in yourself! I like this famous quote from Henry Ford. “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.”
2. Don’t give up. The path to success is not a straight one. In your personal or professional life, each day, focus on one lovely thing. If you seek it, you shall find it. And this simple practice will propel you forward with positivity and productivity.
3. Think big and start small. This approach distills your dreams and work habits into actionable steps. When I first set my goal for my writing career, I aimed to have my essays placed in magazines, and my book published. But to make it happen, I started small. My blog and smaller publications placed my first essays, and I kept going. One piece after another, progress happened. I’m delighted to have pieces in HuffPost, Next Avenue, Brevity Blog, Sunlight Press, Star Tribune, and many others. But the joy is in the writing. A book is not completed in one session! Small work bursts add up to achieve the bigger goal. A published book, a finished painting, a new level of fitness, a commitment to service, musical mastery—whatever it is, go for it!
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
They say growth happens when you step outside of your comfort zone, and in the last 12 months, I’ve been delightfully uncomfortable! I’ve taken on projects and presentations I never imagined—television, radio, podcasts, and corporate presentations to connect teams to their mission. And I love it. I’ve been swirling in a happy tornado of creativity and connection since Incurable Optimist was published.
Plus, exciting new projects are in the works! Besides my prompted journal offering (One Lovely Thing Journal), I’m working on a novel. After completing a memoir, it’s a terrific departure to tackle the genre of fiction. Another story of hope, my forthcoming book explores the intersection of grief and gratitude, and the cascade of events that fall from a domino of kindness.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jennifercramermiller.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifercramermiller/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jennifercramermiller
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifercramermiller/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenCramerMiller
Image Credits
Belu Photography
