--- title: "Be An Optimist: A Poem by Dr Wayne Visser" description: "Optimistic Poetry by Dr Wayne Visser\nBe an optimist\nNot because the future is bright\nBut because bright people are working\nTo make the future better" image: https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/optimistic%20poet%20reading%20to%20a%20group%20of%20people%20in%20a%20beautiful%20garden.jpeg --- ###### [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) ###### [Poetry](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/poetry) # Be An Optimist: A Poem by Dr Wayne Visser ## Be An Optimist Be an optimist Not because the future is bright But because bright people are working To make the future better Be an optimist Not because the news is good But because good people are showing That change is always possible Be an optimist Not because the world is fair But because fair people are fighting For justice wherever it is needed When ordinary people do extraordinary things Let your heart beat a little faster Knowing that you are ordinary too When inspiring leaders rise to our biggest challenges Let your sights be set a little higher Knowing that you too can inspire When young voices join in the call to action Let your efforts go a little further Knowing that you can always do more Be an optimist Not because the night is over But because we all carry the light of values And remember the promise of dawn Be an optimist Not because victory is certain But because we have the opportunity To still make a positive difference Be an optimist Not because the earth is a haven But because we have a growing desire To be guardians for all life When the clouds of gloom are gathering Let your knowledge of the sun and skies above Be a vision that brings perspective When the drums of war are beating Let your refusal to cast others as villains Be a declaration of our common humanity When the tides of bigotry are rising Let your belief that we all have equal worth Be a boat that will never capsize Be an optimist Not because you ignore the facts But because the wider landscape of facts Tell a story of remarkable progress Be an optimist Not because the glass is half full But because we always have the chance To tap a greater source of power Be an optimist Not because you are blind and deaf and dumb But because you see and hear and speak More clearly what is possible *Wayne Visser © 2019* *Dr Wayne Visser is a globally recognised “pracademic”, poet and “possibilist” on the impact of business on nature and society, with faculty roles at the University of Cambridge and Antwerp Management School. He is also director of the thinktank Kaleidoscope Futures, founder of CSR International, and former director of Sustainability Services at KPMG and strategy analyst at Capgemini.* [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 ## 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" : "2024-11-09T19:00:37.905Z", "datePublished" : "2024-11-09T18:44:05.000Z", "headline" : "Be An Optimist: A Poem by Dr Wayne Visser", "image" : [ "https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/optimistic%20poet%20reading%20to%20a%20group%20of%20people%20in%20a%20beautiful%20garden.jpeg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/visser", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Centre%20for%20Optimism_Logo.svg" }, "name" : "The Centre for Optimism" } } ```