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.
Tassia Vicentin Rezende 
I believe the answer isn’t just one thing. My optimism comes from a mix of who I am, what I’ve lived, and how I choose to see life. 🌱 1. My Life Story I moved from Brazil to the U.S., adapted to a new culture, and built something from scratch. That journey taught me resilience and gave me the belief that things work out. Read More>>
Celi Viloria
My optimism comes from my faith that things will work out. I believe that trying always leads you to one of two good outcomes — either everything goes well, or you learn something valuable from the experience. Whenever I’m about to try something, I always ask myself: what’s the best that could happen? That mindset keeps me focused on possibility rather than fear. Read More>>
Branka Radakovic
My optimism was born from the challenges I faced on my journey to becoming an educator. I’ve learned that every negative emotion or state of mind—whether it is fear, uncertainty, or a lack of confidence—carries the positive potential to be transformed into an optimistic attitude. Read More>>
Dominic Grayson
Starting and building Cold Summers AC and Heating wasn’t something that just fell into place overnight. There were long days, slow seasons, mistakes I had to learn from, and moments where I had to figure things out on the fly. But every challenge taught me something, and every setback showed me that quitting wasn’t an option. Read More>>
Dr. Melissa Balizan
It started during one long hospital shift. The kind where the fluorescent lights blur time and every decision feels like it matters—because it does. I had just finished reviewing medications for a patient whose chart told a complicated story: heart issues, chronic pain, anxiety layered on top. But what the chart didn’t show was the look in the patient’s eyes when I walked in. Tired. Read More>>
Dr Catherine Pinkard
My optimism comes from my father. He passed away in 2010 but was an amazing man and he taught me growing up not to look at the glass half empty but half full. He would walk into my dark room and open up the blinds to let light shine in and talk about the importance of surrounding yourself with a positive environment. Read More>>
Eric & Cassandra Durtschi
Eric is a gardener, and we’ve always felt like gardening is one of the most optimistic acts a person can choose. When you plant a tree, you’re investing in something you may never fully see but you believe it will grow & flourish. That kind of quiet hope shapes how we live and how we build Durci Chocolate. Life will always have hard seasons. Read More>>
Deidra Taylor
I would say the main source of my optimism comes from my husband, my kids and my faith. My husband and I share the same drive to grow and challenge ourselves in new ways. As our family grows we are constantly finding new things to learn, developing skills in different areas. Read More>>
Daniel Kronovet
I really do believe that things can get better. People are functions of their environments, and better environments make it easier for people to be kind, open, friendly, etc. On some level, the ‘human condition’ can’t really be improved — aging, envy, and so on are part of being alive. Read More>>
Caitie Mac
I have a motto that I tell myself all the time: ‘It’s all gonna work out.’ I don’t know why exactly I started saying it to myself. I think it might have started on an emotional night in high school after the boy I had liked found out. I laid in my bed and thought of ten years in the future.Read More>>
Allison & Rafael Rozo
As a creative, you’re not doing it right if you’re not being rejected. Gatekeepers are everywhere—especially in publishing. That’s part of the journey. But we don’t do this for them. We write for kids. Because if even one child opens a book and sees themselves—really sees themselves—that moment matters. That’s the win. That’s the work. That’s what keeps us going. That spark—that connection—that’s the reason. Read More>>
Aniko Szatmari
In Conversation with Aniko Szatmari: Choosing Optimism, Designing Transformation Where does your optimism come from? I get this question a lot. People often think it’s just who I am, that I was born optimistic. Our minds naturally tend to focus on negative thoughts. It’s like we’re conditioned to worry and fear constantly. Read More>>
Pranali Tari
I think my optimism really comes from my upbringing, especially my mother. She always taught me to be hopeful and independent, whether financially or professionally. It made me believe that even if things aren’t perfect or aren’t working out the way I want, I can still figure them out. Read More>>
Evelyn Phan
My optimism comes from being a dancer first. Growing up in dance, you learn very quickly that progress isn’t linear. You fall, you repeat, you refine, and as long as you keep going, growth follows. That process taught me patience with myself and trust in the long game. Read More>>
Ned, The Koala
I’ve always had a sense of the “glass half full” way of looking at things. Which isn’t the most common mindset in music. But coming up watching lil b definitely made me lock in with that even more. I love the fact I see everything through the lens of my 8 year old self, everything still has potential, everything is so rare and pure. Read More>>
Dr Gwendolyn Jackson
as Dr. Gwendolyn “GwenJ.” Jackson My optimism comes from a lifetime of watching God weave together creativity, learning, and purpose. I grew up in Atmore, Alabama, surrounded by women who taught me faith, resilience, and style. In seventh grade, I made my first macramé purse; not knowing that moment would become a thread God would use throughout my life. Read More>>
Big N
I graduated from university in 2014. Even before graduating, I had a vague sense that I might become a comic artist. At the time, I had only drawn a few very rough short stories, so I’m not sure where that confidence came from. But soon after graduation, I did in fact become a contributor to one of the top comic magazines in China. Read More>>
Jennifer Griffith
Optimism, for me, was not something I was simply born with. it was something I chose, over and over again, through life’s hardest moments. I have forged through experiences that could have easily left me bitter, but instead led me to a deeper understanding that there was always something greater at work. Read More>>
Bee Alvarado
Where my optimism comes from is something I experience every single day through the babies and families I work with. As a child development specialist and the founder of Mother Earth’s Learning Center, I have the privilege of being invited into one of the most formative stages of a family’s life. Read More>>
Brad J. Sherrod
I learned optimism before I even knew how to define it. I remember being young, sitting back and watching my mom move through life with a level of urgency and determination that didn’t need explanation. Early mornings. Late nights. Different jobs. Same mission—make it work, no matter what. There wasn’t a lot of complaining, just action. And as a kid, I paid attention to that. Read More>>
Chaz Kay
Many people might say that optimism is naïve or that it’s somehow unrealistic, but I argue the exact opposite. My optimism is intentional. Read More>>
TreAlise
What a beautiful question. My optimism stems from my faith that things work out exactly how they are supposed to. I don’t mean that in a passive way like “life is what it is,”. It’s more in a grounded trusting natural instinct of peace. Even when something feels delayed or unclear, I know that it’s still unfolding in the direction it needs to go. Read More>>
Chyna Jackson
My optimism comes from a lot of things, but mostly from seeing people smile. I love knowing that I can make someone’s day better just by being myself. People even tell me that when I walk into a room, I make everyone happy, and that’s something I really take pride in. Read More>>
Erin Duvall
I think my optimism really comes from perspective. I’ve walked through seasons that didn’t unfold the way I expected, and at the time they were difficult to understand. But over time, I’ve been able to look back and see how much those experiences shaped me. I wouldn’t wish some of those seasons on anyone, but I’m grateful for the perspective they gave me. Read More>>
