- Optimism is the invisible ingredient that powers so much of the incredible progress in society – from entrepreneurs and investors to artists and creatives who believe in something and are optimistic enough to risk their time, money, and reputation. We asked some of the most optimistic folks we know where they think they get their optimism form.
Shera Rowley
At one point in time, we were newlyweds with two children, and our baby had just been diagnosed with cancer. The initial shock was overwhelming. I remember sitting in the hospital room, feeling the world crashing in. Our first steps were to figure out how to keep our child alive, which involved countless hospital visits and learning medical jargon overnight. Read more>>
Rob Schwartz
I think my optimism comes from the fact I believe in the goodness of people and that life is essentially joyful even if there is much suffering in it. These beliefs are rooted in what I was taught by my parents Charlotte and Morrie (the eponymous lead in the book Tuesdays with Morrie), and a combination of Hindu, Buddhist, and nature religion spiritual learnings. Read more>>
Sylvia Cross
I am happy to wake up in the morning and see the sun. In the evening I am equally blessed to see the moon and stars. I am grateful for each day and humbled that I am witness to it. This joy leads me to feel optimistic about the gift of life. Where there is life,there is hope.
Joel Cool
aise your hand if your parents called you ungrateful. My Mexican immigrant dad never let his boys forget how lucky we were to have a roof over our heads and clothes on our backs. He would share stories of what he went through as a child making sure that we knew how good we had it. As I aged into a teenager, negative energy was never permitted. Read more>>
Elise Rise
I think we all start out optimistic as kids with a belief we can do and be anything–but we lose this perspective once fear and doubt sets in. For me it was essential as an artist to reclaim that childlike radical optimism. Read more>>
Alicia Fiammetta
I live by the Golden Rule: treat everyone the way you want to be treated. It’s a simple but effective way to stay positive. Keeping a positive mindset has truly shown to create a positive life. I try to practice positive thinking throughout each day. Prayer, meditation, and affirmations have played a huge role in my mindset training and staying optimistic. Read more>>
Marlys Beider
My eventful life taught me that negative thinking is a waste of time. Optimism always works out better and takes me where I want to go. Nothing is more encouraging and dynamic than a positive outlook. Am I always successful in following my beliefs? Absolutely not! I often have doubts, question myself and make mistakes. Read more>>
Keshawn Dodds
My optimism stems from when I was a child. I was always encouraged by my mother that I could do anything that I put my mind to. It didn’t matter what it was, if I saw someone doing something extremely difficult on TV, my response was, “I can do that!” and my mother always said YES YOU CAN! that helped me to build confidence in myself and from there, I built an extreme optimistic attitude towards life. Read more>>
Amy Yung
My optimism stems from overcoming the various obstacles and setbacks I’ve faced in life. Each challenge has taught me that no matter how difficult things may seem, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. These experiences have reinforced my belief that resilience and a positive mindset can turn even the toughest situations around. Read more>>
Alberto Jaen
I guess the opposite never helped me. Life taught me from a very young age that it is tough, of course… but compared to whose? Look around, not on Instagram, in real life, and see how fortunate you are. Many people choose to complain all day and be a victim, but you can’t be both a victim and responsible at the same time. Read more>>
Elijah Lyn
The short answer is that my optimism was born out of necessity. It’s how to survive. Growing up was not kind on me, I faced a multitude of struggles from a young age caused by a developmental disability that went undiagnosed for a number of years and events that left me with complex post traumatic stress disorder. Read more>>
Joe Mohr
Hmmm. Good question. I suppose some luck and some awareness play a part. I was lucky to be raised in a happy home by two loving parents and an awesome sister. As a child, I rarely had a reason not to smile and I think I just got used to it. I also observed over my time on our planet that positivity equals progress. I am not always positive/optimistic, but I learned during those times that being negative is stifling. Read more>>
Neha Oberoi
My optimism is deeply rooted in dedication to learning and adaptability. This means embracing each opportunity with boundless curiosity and appreciating the process of persistent effort. It’s about reflecting on what truly matters to me, defining my vision, and staying focused on the broader perspective. True sportsmanship involves more than just playing when victory is certain; it’s about skillfully overcoming obstacles. Read more>>
Emma Wells
Personally, I do not think that optimism can come from anyone but yourself; it’s something that you have to choose for yourself daily. To be honest, optimism has not always come easy to me. However, I strive to be someone who can take what is thrown at me and cling to hidden encouragements in otherwise challenging situations; I like to think of it as being a positive cryptic. As someone who has struggled with anxiety for as long as I can remember, being a positive cryptic is kind of what kept me from spiraling deep into my thoughts, and I found comfort in telling myself that things would get better. Read more>>
Sarah Ikerd
My optimism comes from feeling a connection with God / Universe and my personal understanding of that so far. I connect through prayer and meditation for trying to understand the context of different situations and events in my life and how to navigate. This helps me continue to grow. The creative or life force definitely makes me feel optimistic, also learning more and exploring, trying to cultivate feelings of love and peace through spirit. Read more>>
Pranjal Acharya
I have been a big fan of sports. Growing up I tried to play every sport I could. One big thing that a sport teaches you is that you might be the best player in the world but you can still lose. At the end of the day, somebody wins, somebody loses. Now just because you have lost today, does not mean you can’t win tomorrow. It doesn’t mean that you’re not good enough. All it means is that somebody was better than you on that day. Read more>>
