--- title: "Wisdom helps us Be More Optimistic and Focus on Joy: Robert Baker" description: Robert Baker is right - wisdom helps us focus on joy and being more optimistic. image: https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Robert%20Baker%20Photo%20-%20friends.jpg --- ###### [Check out Our latest insights on Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog) [![Centre for Optimism_Logo](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Centre%20for%20Optimism_Logo.svg)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com?hsLang=en) - [Home](https://www.centreforoptimism.com) - [Subscribe](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/subscribe) - [Why Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whyoptimism) - [What is Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whatisoptimism) - [The Optimism Principle](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/theoptimismprinciple) - [Need Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/services-and-workshops) - [The Optimism Workshop](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/workshop) - [Victor Perton - That Optimism Man](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/victorperton) - [Magnetic Optimism for Organisations](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/magnetic-optimism-workshops) ![Close Icon (3)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Close%20Icon%20(3).svg) ![Search (2)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Search%20(2).svg) ###### [People](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/people) , ###### [Joy](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/joy) , ###### [Laughter](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/laughter) , ###### [Friends](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/friends) , ###### [Wisdom](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/wisdom) # Wisdom helps us Be More Optimistic and Focus on Joy: Robert Baker "The common connection between joy and optimism for me is people and relationships." That's what Robert Baker, CEO of Potentia Talent Consulting, told me when I asked him about the connection between optimism and joy as we at The Centre for Optimism join with The Art and Science of Joy to celebrate their [Year of Joy starting with the joy-superpower of optimism commencing today!](https://theartandscienceofjoy.com/year-of-joy/) ![Robert Baker Photo - friends](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Robert%20Baker%20Photo%20-%20friends.jpg?width=300&height=248&name=Robert%20Baker%20Photo%20-%20friends.jpg)Robert wrote, "Research shows that the quality of our relationships is a key determinant of happiness and joy. For me being with friends and family and spending real “quality time” with them fulfils one of my deepest needs and sparks pure joy in me. I hope the photo of my wife Pamela, me, and our dear friends Liz and Bryan demonstrates that. You will see that while we are all moving towards wisdom and maturity, we are still light of heart and enjoy the simple things in life, like a walk in winter on a frozen lake!   ![Robert Baker in Austria](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Robert%20Baker%20in%20Austria.jpeg?width=300&height=169&name=Robert%20Baker%20in%20Austria.jpeg)"Turning to optimism, what makes me optimistic is the propensity of people to care for each other, share with each other and laugh with each other. The second photo was taken on a hiking holiday in Austria with friends, most of whom we have known for many years. As you can see, the group encompasses a wide variety of ages and some of us have medical conditions that make hiking strenuous. But we all supported each other to get to the summit of our hike and spent many happy evenings celebrating by a roaring fire, with a nice home-cooked meal and glass of wine or two, singing Frank Sinatra songs. As long as people truly care for each other, we should always be optimistic about the future!  "It certainly also came home to me thinking about this question that with age comes wisdom, and wisdom helps us focus on joy and being more optimistic."  The year of Joy starts today and, to my delight, opens with the Superpower of Optimism.  Join us for a global interactive web-gathering on 19 January at 8 pm EST, 5 pm PST and 20 January at 12 pm AEST - register for free via Zoom -  [register for free via Zoom](https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-1zP9uFiSYKxpoxf3ZWM7A).   If you live in Melbourne, Australia, come and join us for breakfast on the 21st of January at 8 am AEST.  ([Book via Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/port-melbourne-breakfast-joy-and-optimism-tickets-501065710027))   [![Read More and Join in: Celebrate Joy and Optimism](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/21889975/3732f8c5-c3f3-408a-b986-1000a392498c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/21889975/3732f8c5-c3f3-408a-b986-1000a392498c)   [Written by Victor Perton](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/author/victor-perton) ##### Keep up to date with the latest from Centre for Optimism ##### We appreciate any contribution you can make to help us spread optimism with the world [![Give Today](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/21889975/daed54ec-1173-4b99-9390-e69152e87436.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/21889975/daed54ec-1173-4b99-9390-e69152e87436) #### Here are some similar articles ###### [People](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/people) , ###### [community](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/community) #### [There remains light in people and in the Bonds of Community](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/anup?hsLang=en) [Read Article](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/anup?hsLang=en) ###### [People](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/people) #### [Richard Munang: The Unstoppable Spirit of People](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/richardmunang?hsLang=en) [Read Article](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/richardmunang?hsLang=en) ## Connect With Us ##### We love to connect with everyone who is ready to open up and share their optimisim. - [![Facebook 2](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Center%20of%20Optimism%20Assets/Facebook%202.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/optimistsvoices/) - [![instagram (6)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/instagram%20(6).svg)](https://www.instagram.com/centreforoptimism/?hl=en) - [![linked in 2](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/linked%20in%202.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/centreforoptimism/) - [![youtube (3)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/youtube%20(3).svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFd4GnToz3WLasQSfsz_z8w) - [![twitter](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/twitter.svg)](https://twitter.com/Centre4Optimism) #### Keep up to date with the latest from The Centre for Optimism ##### Contact Us Call Us: [+61 417 217 241](tel:+61%20417%20217%20241) (Australia) PO Box 5081, Garden City, Victoria 3207, Australia ##### [The Centre for Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com?hsLang=en) - [Why Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whyoptimism) - [What is Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whatisoptimism) - Why be Optimistic? - Our Advisory board ##### Our Research - What makes People Optimistic? - Transformation and Change - [The Better Normal](https://thecentreforoptimism.wildapricot.org/The-Better-Normal) - Strategy and Optimism ##### Join Us - Become a Patron - Join the Optimism Movement - Volunteer ##### [Services](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/workshop?hsLang=en) - [The Optimism Workshop](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/workshop) - The Optimism Roundtable - Beacons Of Optimism Workshop - [The Habits of an Optimist](https://www.projectoptimism.com.au/courses/optimism-can-be-learnt-the-habits-of-an-optimist/) ##### The Centre for Optimism - [Why Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whyoptimism) - [What is Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whatisoptimism) - Why be Optimistic? - Our Advisory board ##### Our Research - What makes People Optimistic? - Transformation and Change - [The Better Normal](https://thecentreforoptimism.wildapricot.org/The-Better-Normal) - Strategy and Optimism ##### Join Us - Become a Patron - Join the Optimism Movement - Volunteer ##### Services - [The Optimism Workshop](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/workshop) - The Optimism Roundtable - Beacons Of Optimism Workshop - [The Habits of an Optimist](https://www.projectoptimism.com.au/courses/optimism-can-be-learnt-the-habits-of-an-optimist/) ©2026 The Centre for Optimism - Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Victor Perton", "url" : "https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/author/victor-perton" }, "dateModified" : "2023-01-16T19:19:15.036Z", "datePublished" : "2023-01-16T19:09:25.000Z", "headline" : "Wisdom helps us Be More Optimistic and Focus on Joy: Robert Baker", "image" : [ "https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Robert%20Baker%20Photo%20-%20friends.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/robertbaker", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Centre%20for%20Optimism_Logo.svg" }, "name" : "The Centre for Optimism" } } ```