---
title: "Do You Have to Be an Optimist to Work Toward a Better World?: Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff"
description: action is the most effective form of optimism
image: https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Empty%20asphalt%20road%20and%20sun%20rising%20at%20skyline.jpeg
---

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# Do You Have to Be an Optimist to Work Toward a Better World?: Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff

<https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/do-you-have-to-be-an-optimist-to-work-toward-a-better-world-charlie-brinkhurst-cuff>

"Do You Have to Be an Optimist to Work Toward a Better World?"

An excellent question [by Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff in an essay](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/17/business/optimism-work-crisis.html).

"sometimes action is the most effective form of optimism."

Psychiatrist [Igor Galynker](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/#) is quoted “I’m afraid that the world is entering a dark age. On an individual level, helping people deal with this, and finding ways to live with this or fight this? I’m very optimistic.”

"The ability to cultivate and maintain optimism is believed to originate from a mixture of circumstantial and innate factors, such as cumulative life experiences and heritability. According to Tali Sharot, the author of “The Optimism Bias: A Tour of the Irrationally Positive Brain,” optimism functions as a kind of “cognitive time travel” that allows humans to plan for the future. It is likely that the trait of optimism developed evolutionarily because having “positive expectations” has huge health benefits, and can even lengthen life."

Self-proclaimed optimist [Hamira Kobusingye](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/#) who runs [Africa Climate Justice](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/#) said "Focusing on small victories and achievable goals is essential to resisting pessimism and sustainably working for solutions"

What do you think?

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,

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