Our team is mostly comprised of optimists and we are often asked where all this optimism comes from and often these questions have led to enlightening conversations and so we decided to ask others in our community where they feel their optimism comes from?
Shagwhelin ‘ Shaggy’ Bullock
My optimism comes from three things: knowing what I want, trusting my work ethic, and finding the right motivation. I learned early that life is not fair. Losing my mom young taught me to appreciate the beauty in life, and my dad taught me that nothing is handed to you. Growing up fast gave me clarity about the kind of future I wanted. Read More>>
Sarah Love McCoy
I believe optimism is an act of rebellion. It can be a life line to hope. I don’t want to live in a world without hope so I have learned to build a strong optimistic outlook. I learned it early from my mother. She was chronically ill during my childhood, but she was always looking for the silver lining. Read More>>
Christine Jahan
When I was a kid, my brother and I heard that how you talk to people has affects performance. We decided to put it to the test by playing my brother’s favorite computer game at the time. First, my job was to be as mean as possible – ‘You’re dumb. You suck. How could you make such a dumb mistake? Read More>>
romulo landin casillas
My optimism comes from living a life of knowing that death is imminent , things really shouldn’t matter and we should make life the very best we can. ,Making things that matter to us. Living for things that matter to us. Thinking things wont go your way takes the same energy as things going your way anyway so why not continue to be positive. Read More>>
Lida Johnson
My optimism wasn’t something I was born with—it’s something built slowly, over time. It comes from growing up in an environment where love wasn’t modeled and encouragement was scarce, and deciding early on that my life would not follow the patterns I came from. Read More>>
Maria Angelica Caruso
My optimism comes from an unwavering belief that my purpose on this earth is to leave it in a better place than how I found it. I follow my gut and lead with my soul, remaining transparent in how I show up and how I share my vision. I address challenges and fears in real time, using them as catalysts rather than obstacles. Read More>>
Rocquel Carpenter
My optimism comes from my faith, which has led me to develop a better mindset. To be honest, over the past couple of years, I’ve had many situations thrown at me that I never could have imagined. If I didn’t have my faith, I don’t believe I would have the mindset I have now. Read More>>
Jessy Shelton
The ocean and the coast is calm yet fierce. When I look at it I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of responsibility to protect it. Being in this field I feel like, at the surface, there are scary topics/possible outcomes and upsetting facts about our state of the world. Read More>>
Kaila Coleman
I believe that optimism is one of the most crucial choices you can make in your life. Optimism is such a rare thing to find, and I think part of that is because it is easy to get overwhelmed with things that upset us and believe that things are always going wrong. Read More>>
Faith Ellis
Optimism, for me, has been a daily practice. Many people have to make a conscious, daily effort to rewire their brain into seeing the good in everything. I’m naturally a realist, which can sometimes come off as pessimistic, but throughout my life I’ve turned more optimistic. Read More>>
DEE Wagner
I am so grateful to wake up every morning excited to step into my life. I see my life as a gift from the universe and how I use that gift is how I show my gratitude. Read More>>
Shannon Thomas
My optimism comes from my belief in God. Every single thing I’ve asked for or felt called to do, He’s made a way for me to accomplish. I truly believe He placed certain gifts inside of me on purpose, and if I can dream it, I can make it happen. Read More>>
R. Jahan
My optimism comes from being raised under a powerful matriarchy of three women—my aunt, my mother, and my grandmother. They banded together to raise their children, and our home was built on an abundance of love. Read More>>
Gavis Dean
I believe in God and I try to walk a righteous Path, so when you’re doing that – the first rule is to stay optimistic, you have to believe that everything is working out in your favor and everything will align the way it’s supposed to when the time is right. Optimism for me is really a way of life. Read More>>
Ryan Cho
My optimism comes from having overcome many challenges. and hardships, a stand out being my 2nd year of college (rock bottom in young adult years). From that experience of tribulations, thinking that nothing was going to get better, etc., going through that process and resolving everything during that time reminds me that I can overcome anything and things will eventually get better. Read More>>
Stephania Escorcia
My optimism comes from my baby boy. Since he arrived, I see life differently—he gives me faith in ways I can’t even fully explain. When I’m holding him, I feel that everything is going to be okay as long as I have him close and I keep my trust in God. Read More>>
Jamie Lammers
Experiencing art in general gives me optimism. I’ve always been an optimistic person, but over the last two or three years, I’ve had to work to get that back. Often, the most euphoric and life-affirming experiences I’ve had involve performing and sharing art, whether it’s singing in a new music ensemble or uploading covers and original songs to social media. Read More>>
Elicia Hawkins
Belief in a positive future: An optimistic person generally expects things to turn out well, even when facing difficulties. My optimism stems from my faith and my focus on the things I truly believe in. Regardless of how many times I’ve faced rejection or heard the word ‘no,’ I always choose to maintain a positive outlook. Read More>>
Valentina Maggi
My optimism comes from realizing that I’m the one who creates my life — through my point of view and my attitude. For so long, we’re taught to look outside ourselves for answers, for signs, for someone to tell us what to do… and we forget that the real power sits within us. The moment I understood that everything is a choice, everything shifted. Read More>>
Marina Btesh
I´m not quite sure, but if it is a matter of genetic or heritage I have to think on my mothers side. What I can tell is that being optimistic it’s not only a good feeling but an attitude and I’m also confident. I love this anonymous and it’s my ‘moto’ ‘Everything will be ok in the end. Read More>>
Alex Gordias
For me, optimism is like a switch that flips the moment I step into a session. I can be carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders, but once I pick up the camera, something shifts — almost like stepping through a doorway into clearer air. My job is to support people, to encourage them, to help them feel seen. Read More>>
Katharina Schäfer
I’ve dealt with anxiety for most of my life, and for a long time that meant feeling overwhelmed by things other people seemed to handle easily. I didn’t become optimistic by nature but learned it out of necessity. Read More>>
Margaret Elysia Garcia
It’s not easy to be optimistic in a apocalyptic world but it is vital if you want to not wallow in despair or become suicidal. Mine comes from a combination of things. First off my children and grandchild keep me hopeful about the future and the necessity of despite all odds, attempting to create pockets of a better world. Read More>>
Antonieta Contreras
I’ve worked hard at developing my optimism. It’s not something that happens by itself, and it’s not about believing that life is easy. As a clinician, I know that people don’t heal quickly. But I’ve developed optimism from witnessing, over and over again, the extraordinary capacity the human system has to reorganize itself—to learn, to engage differently, to search for meaning. Read More>>
Taz Garcia
Honestly, it comes from how I grew up through war, pushed through high-level sports, corporate life, and the grind of carving out a creative career with no guarantees. I’ve seen firsthand how resilience and purpose can transform pain or fear into passion. Because of that, I choose to move through life with hope, gratitude, and belief in what’s possible for myself and for others. Read More>>
Danielle Alhassid
My optimism comes from doing what I love. Each project slowly unravels until it becomes a complex mechanism with its own life, presented as a video installation, a print series or a performance. Read More>>
DJ Miss Haze
Coming in hot with a deep question, I see! My optimism is a result of my perspective on life, and life experience. Read More>>
Erik & Adrianne
Our optimism really comes from the joy we find in creating together. When we collaborate, there’s a kind of spark. An energy that feels greater than what either of us brings individually. Erik’s years of songwriting experience and Adrianne’s background in vocal training naturally complement one another, and that balance keeps the process inspiring. Read More>>
Hope Skouras
My optimism comes from my faith and the perspective I gained through my health journey. I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at 17, and when you face a life-altering chronic illness at a young age, you quickly learn not to take your health—or your days—for granted. Read More>>
Daisy De Anda
It’s a question I’ve asked myself at every turning point; when I was a child on welfare, a teen mom balancing college textbooks with diapers, and an 18-year-old woman of color navigating corporate America with a baby girl on my hip and dreams in my heart. Read More>>
