Optimism isn’t simply about believing everything will work out. It’s about recognizing what’s difficult and taking meaningful action even when the outcome is uncertain. That distinction lies at the heart of resilient optimism, a powerful practice that calls for courage rather than blind positivity.
In this episode, I’m joined by Michelle Gielan, positive psychology researcher, keynote speaker, and bestselling author of Broadcasting Happiness and Resilient Optimism: The Science of Sustaining a Positive Mindset in Tough Times. A former national news anchor at CBS News, Michelle left the anchor desk to study how communication shapes what we believe is possible. Her research has been published in Harvard Business Review, and she holds a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. She has also worked with organizations including NASA, Google, and Microsoft to help their teams sustain optimism under pressure.
Michelle shares how her daughter’s premature birth and 50 days in neonatal intensive care transformed her understanding of optimism. We explore why optimism is a behavior rather than a feeling, and how our actions can help shift our mindset even when we’re struggling to feel hopeful. Drawing on her own experience, she explains how focusing on small signs of progress and what we can influence helps us move forward without denying the difficulties we face.
She also shares practical ways to recalibrate our perspective, rethink stress, set boundaries around commitments, and make room to recharge. Finally, we explore why optimists are becoming less vocal, why speaking up about what’s going well matters, and how to do so without falling into the trap of toxic positivity or dismissing the difficulties others face.
Join us to discover how small, intentional actions can help us build a more resilient outlook, even during life’s toughest moments.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Introducing Michelle Gielan, her new book Resilient Optimism, and how her daughter’s premature birth changed her understanding of optimism. [00:55]
- The difference between blind optimism and resilient optimism, and why taking action matters more than feeling positive. [09:26]
- How negative news affects our mindset and why Michelle left CBS News to study positive psychology. [12:35]
- Practical ways to recalibrate your mindset, recognize progress amid challenges, and counter negativity bias. [15:25]
- The science of transforming your stress response and learning from difficult experiences. [24:10]
- How to triage commitments, set boundaries, and prioritize what truly matters. [26:27]
- Why recharging smarter is essential for sustaining resilience and optimism. [31:44]
- How connecting positive experiences can reshape the stories we tell ourselves. [34:19]
- Michelle’s research on why optimists are becoming less vocal and the importance of speaking up about what’s working. [38:18]
- The difference between resilient optimism and toxic positivity, and how to support people through difficult experiences. [40:39]
For More Information:
Michelle Gielan in Harvard Business Review
Resilient Optimism: The Science of Sustaining a Positive Mindset in Tough Times
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Michelle’s and her husband Shawn Achor’s company, GoodThink Inc.
Michelle’s free Resilient Optimism Assessment
Michelle’s free seven-part video series, Optimism Under Pressure, on LinkedIn
Kathy’s books Breakdown, Breakthrough and The Most Powerful You
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Quotes:
“[Optimism] is not a feeling. It is a practice. It’s a set of behaviors that help us stay focused on progress, possibility, and the ways in which our behavior matters. In a way that helps us see reality differently and ultimately fuel forward momentum.” — Michelle Gielan [0:06:02]
“You don’t need to feel optimistic to choose to behave like an optimist.” — Michelle Gielan [0:08:16]
“Resilient optimism is where we say, ‘I understand what’s happening. I have a realistic assessment of the present moment, and I believe my behavior matters, and especially in the face of challenges.’” — Michelle Gielan [0:11:12]
“Resilience is not how you endure; it’s how you recharge.” — Michelle Gielan [0:32:50]
“The thing is that if optimists go quiet, pessimists get the floor. We want people who are critical thinkers who can see problems for what they are [and can engage in creating positive change]. But a pessimist doesn’t believe their behavior matters.” — Michelle Gielan [0:40:00]
“Toxic positivity doesn’t open a space to talk about the emotional experiences that we’re having that are negative, and we absolutely need that. – When we edit that part out, we’re missing it. It’s not giving us the right to have the opportunity to be human.” — Michelle Gielan [0:41:30]
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