The Centre for Optimism

"Reward people for bringing up problems. In order to innovate, you need to be an optimist but not a blind optimist."

Optimism and Innovation 

Jim Greenwood, President and CEO, Bio

"As tragic and frightening the COVID-19 is, I am optimistic that America’s world-leading biotechnology companies will develop therapeutics and vaccines at record speed."

CoronaVirus Through the Lens of an Optimist

Hope, optimism, and a positive outlook, in general, have been associated with protection against chronic illnesses. This may be in part because the absence of depression or chronic negative emotions is important in its own right — we know that those can be detrimental to overall health. It could also be that people who are more hopeful and optimistic are more likely to engage in positive health behaviors and take better care of themselves. That said, it is still strongly suggested that hope in and of itself has a positive effect on physiological processes like circulation and respiration, most likely because of its stress-reduction properties — which in turn help keep the nervous system from being overtaxed.

Optimism improves cardiovascular health. The data is convincing: Optimism is good for your heart health. Large-scale meta-analyses have shown that an optimistic outlook reduces your risk of heart attack, and the data is so significant that many cardiovascular experts believe that improving mental health outlook is a crucial part of preventative treatment for heart disease. The connection should not be considered surprising, given that the stress response — a direct link between emotional health and physical health — plays such an important role in long-term heart health.

Another factor in this connection is blood pressure. Hope and optimism can have positive effects on blood pressure, boosting treatment efforts for hypertension. When blood pressure is managed and maintained within healthier levels, the benefits extend beyond your heart, helping prevent your risk of stroke as well.

Geoffrey Robertson QC: "Coronavirus took us by surprise and it has certainly added another element. But one thing that makes me optimistic about humankind is this counterfactual capacity for kindness. And I think that, in a way, coronavirus has spread that sense of carefulness and consideration for other people, which is the only way we’re going to survive it."

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/weekend-australian-magazine/qa-geoffrey-robertson-qc-human-rights-lawyer-author-73/news-story/e143671d3975abd3788a6cfe604e64ce

CoronaVirus Through the Lens of an Optimist

Tamkey and Claire, Lojong Meditation

"The mind is limitless. Understanding your own mind through meditation means unlocking that potential. There can be no truer act of hope and optimism."

Meditate to be More Optimistic

Robin Beres, Deputy Editor, Richmond Times-Dispatch

"Why am I an optimist? Because despite all the news reports of doom and gloom, the world is a good place and becoming better. Since the 1980s, globally, extreme poverty has declined from nearly 45% to less than 10%. Diseases and illnesses that were once considered death sentences are now easily managed. So will COVID-19 one day. Women across the world are going to school and participating in businesses. My motto is always to hope for the best while preparing for the worst."

Despite the challenges, American optimism will see us through this

Boston's Health Yoga Life co-founder Ryma Bielkus told me, "Yoga connects you to your inner light where there is no fear and optimism is the only truth.”

Yoga and Optimism 

Whitney Williams wrote, "There is reason to be optimistic during this overwhelming crisis.  This sensibility  springs from an idea my father, Pat Williams, gave me, a principle of political leadership. He  likes to say “We must remember there is a genius on every block.” What he means is we need to have confidence and trust in the people and systems that make America  extraordinary, and then we’ll be okay."

https://mtstandard.com/opinion/columnists/guest-view-we-have-reason-to-be-optimistic/article_b6f46ad1-35b1-5777-bf01-d60c96fde8b6.html

Sidney Minassian, Founder of ImpactLadder

"We all have the potential to become our extraordinary. Sometimes we are on the right path and other times we take detours to solidify important life lessons. This is by design. I trust the universe and myself. There is nothing but optimism."

Optimists on their Optimism 

Slovie Jungreis-Wolff wrote "Rabbi Akiva was the eternal optimist. He refused to surrender to depression. Where others saw the end of the road, he saw the beginning of the journey. His eye was always on the future. His heart was eternally filled with faith."

http://thejewishvoice.com/2020/04/passover-and-corona-a-message-of-hope/