Consistent Optimism: A Superpower for Every Day
A commentary by Victor Perton
Fran Harper recently described consistent optimism as a superpower. I think she is right.
Consistent optimism is the practice of returning, again and again, to the belief that good things will happen and that things will work out in the end, while continuing to face reality and take the next wise step.
The word consistent matters. It describes something steady and dependable through the changing circumstances of life.
When difficulties knock us off course, we return to possibility. We ask better questions. What is working? What can improve? Who can help? What is the next wise step?
The expression has appeared occasionally in psychological, leadership and personal-development writing since at least 2016. Researchers usually use terms such as dispositional optimism, trait optimism or the temporal consistency of optimism. Yet the everyday phrase captures something valuable: optimism can become a dependable way of approaching life.
Like any superpower, consistent optimism grows through practice. We strengthen it when we look for what is good, spend time with optimistic people, imagine a better future and take action to bring it closer.
How do we practise consistent optimism?
Start by recognising the optimism you already have.
My Optimism Superpowers exercise may help you recognise the form your optimism already takes. Perhaps disciplined optimism is one of your superpowers. If not, it may be one worth practising.
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