Radical Optimism

By Victor Perton, Radical Optimist

Radical optimism is a mindset that focuses on looking at the good in every part of life based on reason and evidence. It is a belief that you carry on and believe things will work out, no matter how dire the situation may seem. 

The term “radical” refers to the idea that optimism is not just a passive approach to life but an active, brave, and hard choice that requires a willingness to face complex realities and find positive sides. 

Radical optimism is a philosophy in various fields, from religion to education and art to science.

One of the key features of radical optimism is its faith in humanity’s goodness and people’s creative power to make the world a better place. Father Richard Rohr, OFM, believes that radical optimism and active hope are the keys to the flourishing of a new story that honours the goodness of all creation and gives us the courage to face difficult realities.  William Ralph Inge wrote, “No Christian can be a pessimist, for Christianity is a system of radical optimism.”

My friend and teacher Rae Snape is a radical optimist because she believes in young people’s and teachers’ brilliance and creative power to make their schools, society, and world happier and better. Another educator, Sarah Chambers at Morialta Secondary College, said, “I love the idea of being a radical optimist and supporting our young people to have hope and make positive change.”

Another essential aspect of radical optimism is its recognition that optimism is a choice and a thinking strategy that empowers us and helps us build confidence. Natalie Dattilo, PhD MHA, argues that optimistic thinking is a powerful tool that allows us to reframe a situation, breed a sense of personal strength, and become more resilient. She also points out that anyone can learn to think like an optimist with practice. Our current circumstances provide the perfect opportunity to do just that.

Radical optimism is also about imagining a brighter future and taking action to make it happen. In conversation with Noah Smith, Kevin Kelly talked about how, as a radical optimist, he works towards a civilization full of life-affirming high technology because he thinks it is possible. 

Radical optimism is also about finding hope in the face of despair. Dylan Brody, a playwright, believes that in times of paralyzing despair, optimism itself becomes a radical force for good. 

In “A Beginner’s Guide to a Solarpunk Lifestyle,” Patience Stewart writes that for something to be honestly labelled “punk,” it must include an element of the radical. For solarpunk, it’s optimism. Radical optimism is a powerful thing that helps us appreciate the sun the most in dark times.

Lindy Hume, the Artistic Director at Ten Days on the Island, believes that creating a festival is an exercise in radical optimism: It requires a willingness to take risks and envision a better future. 

Finn Oldfield argues that embracing radical optimism is the perfect starting point to assuage our collective climate anxiety and help us form a long-term commitment to climate action.

The Oyster Farmer Sue Wicks said, “I think what makes you an oyster farmer is radical optimism. You can’t miss a season and say, ‘I’m going to sit this one out.’”

Radical optimism is a philosophy that encourages us to look for the good in every situation, even the most difficult ones. It is a belief in the goodness of humanity and our ability to create a brighter future. It is a choice and a thinking strategy that empowers us, helps us build confidence, and breeds resilience. It is a willingness to take risks, envision a better future, and find hope in the face of despair. Radical optimism is about being brave, action-orientated and hopeful in the face of uncertainty, fear, and darkness.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM

 "I believe that “radical optimism” and “Active Hope” are the keys to the flourishing of a new story. This new story honors the Good Story of our good God and the goodness of all creation, but also gives us the faith and courage to face the difficult realities that are being unveiled in our times."

 Rae Snape

 "I am a Radical Optimist because I believe in the brilliance and creative power of young people and teachers to make their schools, society and world a happy and even better place!"

 Guillermo del Toro

 "Optimism is radical. It is the hard choice, the brave choice. And it is, it seems to me, most needed now, in the face of despair"

 radicaloptimism.org

 "Radical Optimism is a philosophy that argues for looking at the good in every part of life, based on reason and evidence. If you're sad, angry, or depressed, even for a moment, Radical Optimism questions why you feel this way and helps find positive sides."

 Ore Ogunbiyi

 "To remain optimistic about a world that feels crippled with despair is in itself radical. So hope, to me, is optimism. Radical optimism."

Beatrice Bruteau

 "Radical Optimism shows us who we really are-a unique, precious, creative act of God-and with this understanding we can find the way beyond evil and suffering."

 Marian Salema

 “What makes me optimistic is seeing people coming together and collaborating to solve the world's most pressing problems. Optimism is radical. It is the hard choice, the brave choice. It is about believing that the future can be better than the present..”

Sarah Chambers, Deputy Principal, Morialta Secondary College

"I love the idea of being a radical optimist and supporting our young people to have hope and make positive change. As educators, we have a unique privilege and opportunity to do this in partnership with our communities."

Natalie Dattilo, PhD MHA

 "We have a choice in how we think about any situation we face. Even if you weren’t born an optimist, you can still learn to think like one. “Radical Optimism” is the notion that there’s an upside to everything. Even a global pandemic and worldwide health crisis.

 "Optimistic thinking is a powerful tool that allows us to reframe a situation. It’s a thinking strategy that empowers us and helps us build confidence. It can breed a sense of personal strength and is the foundation of resilience. And like anything, with practice you can get better at it. Our current circumstances provide the perfect opportunity to do just that."

Patience Stewart

 "Radical optimism is a powerful thing!"

 In "A Beginner’s Guide to a Solarpunk Lifestyle", Patience wrote, "However, for something to be truly labeled “punk,” it must include an element of the radical. For solarpunk, it’s optimism. Solarpunk and cyberpunk share a love of technology, but where Blade Runner and other staples of the cyberpunk genre show us how technology can lead us down a hard, dark road, solarpunk shows us where things can go so, so right. It’s a brighter outlook on the future, and one that I personally find refreshing in light of the doomsaying of the current era. Radical optimism is a powerful thing!"

 Patience concluded, "It’s hard to look around and feel optimistic about the future these days, but dark times are when we appreciate the sun the most."

William Ralph Inge

 “No Christian can be a pessimist, for Christianity is a system of radical optimism.”

Finn Oldfield

 “Embracing radical optimism therefore seems to me like the perfect starting point to assuage our collective climate anxiety – and to help us all form a long-term commitment to climate action. It is a necessary first step to imagining new narratives for our environment – because there is no singular, perfect story to save humankind. And by becoming more optimistic, perhaps we can create our own.”

Sue Wicks, Oyster Farmer

 “I think what makes you an oyster farmer is radical optimism. You can’t miss a season and say, ‘I’m going to sit this one out.’”

Dylan Brody, Playwright

"In times of paralyzing despair, optimism itself becomes a radical force for good. Dark ages cannot last. This next renaissance is gonna be a blast."

Bradley Burston

 "There are times so dark, that the most radical act you can perform, is optimism.  Hanukkah. Every night the candles are gone, burned down to nothing. And the next day there are more of them. And then there is more light..."

Kevin Kelly in Conversation with Noah Smith

"As a radical optimist, I work towards a civilization full of life-affirming high technology, because I think this is possible, and by imagining "what could be" gives us a much greater chance of making it real."

Lindy Hume, Artistic Director at Ten Days on the Island

"It has always seemed to me that creating a festival is an exercise in radical optimism, and over the last two years, many of us have learned that planning and making a festival in the middle of a pandemic, amid the horror of a war unfolding in Europe and Australia’s East Coast reels, punch-drunk after another battering, takes radical optimism to a new level... adopting a position of radical optimism is not simply, as Guillermo Del Toro says, ‘rebellious and daring and vital’, it’s the only practical way forward."

Adam Quiney

The heart and soul of my book “Who Do You Think You Are?” is learning how to see the light in yourself and each human you come into contact with and lead. For me, the difference there would be between having someone flake out on a meeting with you and:

1. Thinking, “Oh how nice, I get to have a spare hour, even though that person bailed on the meeting” (this would be the more typical optimistic approach) vs.

2. Seeing that the reason this person flaked out on you is not a deficiency of character but a reflection of the quality of commitment they embody (and the fact that this is simply the way commitment shows up when scared).

You could call this radical optimism. It’s not about putting a nice gloss of paint on the crappy thing happening — it’s about seeing the genuine beauty in everything.

William Greider on Professor Larry Goodwyn in "Remembering Larry Goodwyn"

"his radical optimism did assert that ordinary people are capable of changing outcomes and far more ready and willing than elites will acknowledge."

At COP27, Lucian Tarnowski told Marc Buckley, "first, we must seed radical optimism."

Read more of these inspiring quotable quotes in "Optimism: The How and Why" by Victor Perton, CEO of The Centre for Optimism.

Victor Perton

Generally, optimists attract other optimists, and those other optimists will boost your own optimism, joy and happiness. It can become a virtuous circle, but you first need to seek it out or set it up.

Victor Perton in "Optimism: The How and Why"

"Rigorous studies demonstrate that gratitude journaling and expressing thanks can increase one’s happiness. It improves mental health, and increases happiness, life satisfaction, joy and optimism. In addition, it improves physical health through better sleep, reduced anxiety and lower levels of inflammation."

Project Optimism has produced "The Optimist's Gratitude Journal: 100 days to share and develop your gratitude" which is very helpful.

See https://www.amazon.com/Optimists-Gratitude-Journal-develop-gratitude/dp/B09MC5ZNPX