Harnessing optimism as my greatest superpower

Optimism was cultivated in me from the day I was born. My mom was a fountain of positivity. She was funny, loved to laugh, and radiated optimism. She taught my sisters and me the power of optimism each day through her words, her love for people, and her actions.

My grandmother, who lived with us, also helped us understand the importance of practicing optimism. If my sisters and I did not come downstairs happy and smiling in the mornings, my grandmother would send us back to our rooms and tell us to try again. “There’s so much pain and suffering in the world,” she’d remind us. “You are lucky. Choose happy.”  

That’s not to say we never felt sad or weren’t allowed to show our feelings. When my mom died suddenly, we were heartbroken. Yet through this incredibly difficult time, we never lost our optimism. Like my mother’s love, optimism had become part of us and a way to carry out her legacy.

Optimism has carried me through the most challenging times in my life. It’s allowed me to be more present, content, and grateful. It’s allowed me to pursue my dreams and achieve my ambitions. And it’s allowed me to invest in others.  

I truly believe that optimism is my superpower. In this article, I’m sharing some personal thoughts on how optimism shapes my worldview and ways to put it into practice.

The role of optimism in my own life 

Optimism plays out in many ways and shapes my worldview. While some may associate optimism with idealism, I believe that true optimism runs far deeper. Optimism stems from a belief in something greater. It enables us to work toward a purpose while staying grounded in the challenges before us.  

As humans, we need to know that we’re making a difference--that we’re part of something bigger. It’s why growing up, my family prioritized community service, and why as an HR leader, I often speak about the importance of connecting employees to the company’s mission. For example, at Intel we’re creating world-changing technology to improve the lives of every person on the planet. My belief in this mission fuels my optimism and helps me to charge forward, despite occasional setbacks. I’ve found that this mission also unifies our employees, who know they are making the world better.  

Optimism shapes how I view and respond to people 

I choose to believe that people are well-intentioned and trying their best. Even when someone is being mean or behaving inappropriately, I consider what makes them feel that way and if there’s anything I can do to help. We all need space and grace at times.  

Optimism motivates me to be kind to everyone  

And this applies whether it’s an angry neighbor or an angry driver. Rather than reflecting their anger, I try to diffuse it. As my dad used to say, “You get more with honey than vinegar.” Optimism allows me to exercise empathy, swallow my pride, and let someone else be right. 

Optimism helps me appreciate the little things 

I have a magnet on the fridge that says, “The little things are the big things.” When you string together all the little things, it’s like a thousand points of light. Those little things become the big thing. Optimism helps me appreciate it when my daughter gets home earlier than expected and be grateful for the extra time I can spend with her. It helps me appreciate the first snowflake and my morning latte. 

Optimism helps me be present and content 

Because of my ambition, I used to pressure myself to do too much. I was lucky to have managers recognize this in me early in my career. They taught me to be present and satisfied with where I am and what I have. I learned that you can easily get caught up in the constant wanting and become a giant wanting machine! Appreciate the here and now. 

Optimism shapes how I raise my children  

Many of us have negative memories of our childhood. But it's important to invest in and remember the positive experiences we’ve had. I make it a point to highlight and focus on the positive memories we share and make the little things the big things. For example, I would say to my kids, “What a fun birthday party!” or “It’s so great that you learned how to ride your bike at the park!” or “You’re so lucky to have such a loving sister.” When we remind ourselves and others of these positive moments, they become ingrained in us.

Optimism makes me more invested in others  

The pandemic had a massive impact on our ability to experience human connection. Since then, whenever I’m at a restaurant or a store, I really make a point to check in with the people around me, asking them how they are doing or how their shift is going. Such simple questions, when asked with genuine interest, make people feel seen and appreciated. I’m sure many of you already do this, but it’s so important. 

How to build your optimism muscle 

Although we’re all different and face a variety of individual challenges, I do believe that optimism can be learned and honed. By practicing optimism actively, we forge new neural pathways that make it more ingrained in our lives. Here are a few of my favorite ways to cultivate optimism. 

Acknowledge and reframe 

Recognize the setbacks and challenges you face and acknowledge the negative. If you made a mistake, analyze what you might have done differently and what you’ve learned. Then, move on.  

Focus on what you can control 

Often, things happen that fall outside of our control. Let go and focus on what you can control.  

Seek out opportunities 

When all we see are obstacles, it can be hard to recognize solutions. Reframe challenges into opportunities. Find or create new doorways and solutions. 

Play to your strengths 

It’s easy to get caught up in our weaknesses. And while we may want to work on some of those weaknesses, we’re better off capitalizing on our strengths. What’s your superpower?

Practice gratitude 

I’ve talked about how gratitude can improve your well-being. Unsurprisingly, it’s also essential for fostering optimism. Taking time to write down or meditate on what you’re grateful for can improve your outlook and fuel optimism.  

 Of course, there are plenty of other ways to cultivate optimism. And the benefits are worthwhile for your health, your career, and the people around you. Optimism can help you alleviate anxiety and overcome challenges, so you can press on to fulfill your purpose and make a difference.

Does it mean optimists never anticipate setbacks or failures? Absolutely not. Setbacks are part of life. Failures happen, especially when we step outside our comfort zones and stretch ourselves. But optimists believe that setbacks can be overcome, and failures provide opportunities to learn and improve. 

What are some strategies you have for fueling optimism? Please comment below—I’d love to hear what you think.