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Is Your Optimism Pathological?
By Victor Perton
Is Your Optimism Pathological?
My question is inspired by the self-proclaimed pathological optimism of Mayo Clinic's Rafa Fonseca, Lawrence Reed and Ross Gittins and a headline in PHOENIX Magazine which reads, "Rafael Fonseca, M.D.: How optimism and a calling led a cancer innovator to Mayo Clinic in Arizona."
The article states, "Rafael Fonseca, M.D., hematologist and chief innovation officer at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, is a self-proclaimed pathological optimist."
Dr. Fonseca, a self-proclaimed pathological optimist, leads a team of researchers at Mayo Clinic. Their mission is to create a brighter future for people with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer that develops in plasma cells. His relentless optimism has led to significant achievements, including being named one of 2024's Giants of Cancer Care for his groundbreaking contributions to multiple myeloma research.
Optimistically addressing his patients, Dr. Fonseca extends hope by stating, "I tell them I will do my best so they can someday say they had a curable version of multiple myeloma."
Dr Fonseca's pathological optimism reminds me of an interview with Larry Reed, who shared with Jeff Kerr-Bell and me.
"I don't know, as I say, where it came from, maybe my parents instilled it in me, but I've always felt that I was an optimist at heart, perhaps a pathological one, and I think it has served me very well over the years," said Lawrence W. Reed, President Emeritus of the Foundation for Economic Education and holds the titles of Humphreys Family Senior Fellow and Ron Manners Global Ambassador for Liberty.
Larry reflected further "I remember as a teenager reading Norman Vincent Peale, another pathological optimist. So too, Dale Carnegie. Some of their optimism rubbed off on me too."
Similarly, Ross Gittins, economics editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, wrote an article titled 'Why I'm a pathological optimist, despite my job.' In it, he emphasizes that optimism is not just a hereditary trait, but also a conscious decision. He shares that being an optimist is a choice to see life through a positive lens, a perspective he finds essential even in his line of work, which often involves dealing with challenging economic realities.
Julie Watson, CEO at Stronger Than My Excuses, says of herself, "I'm a pathological optimist. I look for the good in everything I do, and if I find myself in a place of not feeling so good, I trust my guidance system (my gut feelings) to help me make the adjustment to get back on the optimistic path as quickly as possible."
What is pathological optimism? In this context, pathological optimism refers to an unwavering positivity that drives individuals to persist in the face of daunting challenges, believing that good outcomes are always possible. It is an optimism so strong it might be seen as excessive or extreme by pessimists. This type of optimism often involves a conscious choice to focus on positive outcomes, even in difficult situations, making it a powerful force for resilience and success. As outlined in Optimism: The How and Why, optimism can profoundly impact health, resilience, and success.
What's your optimism superpower? Please take a moment to reflect on what fuels your optimism and how it empowers you in your life and work. Is it your ability to inspire others, to see opportunities where others see obstacles, or perhaps to maintain hope even in the darkest times? Embrace your unique optimism and let it guide you toward greater achievements.
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