Optimism is Realism: We Need More Realistic Optimists

Optimism is Realism: We Need More Realistic Optimists.

By Victor Perton

The times call for realistic and infectiously optimistic leaders. In a world filled with challenges and uncertainties, those who possess a combination of realism and optimism have the power to bring about meaningful change. This unique blend of perspectives allows individuals to acknowledge the harsh realities they face while maintaining a belief in the potential for a better future. Shannon Huffman Polson, author and advocate for realistic optimism, states, "We need more optimists, really. Realistic optimists. The only way anything gets done."

Realistic optimists understand that optimism is not about denying or ignoring existing challenges but acknowledging them and actively seeking solutions. The school principal Allen Little explained to me that "reality makes me optimistic because, in reality, optimism is our natural state of being. We figure out how to be negative."

Optimism, in this sense, becomes a driving force that propels individuals forward, even in the face of adversity. It is the understanding that, while obstacles may exist, there is always the potential for growth, improvement, and positive change.

Leadership plays a crucial role in fostering realistic optimism. Former Sheriff Russell L. Martin told me about the importance of inspirational and trustworthy leadership that is both realistic and optimistic, providing a message of hope and possibility. Effective leaders combine a harsh sense of reality with a dose of contagious optimism, looking past obstacles and instilling a sense of belief in those they lead.

This sentiment is echoed by Bertrand Badré, Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum's Global Future Council, who emphasises the need to combine a realistic assessment of the current situation with an unwavering belief in the potential for progress. He states, "Leadership must appropriately combine a harsh sense of reality with a dose of contagious optimism. It is about looking forward past the obstacles. Yes, we can!"

Realistic and infectious optimism is essential not only for leaders but also for the workforce. In the post-pandemic world, realistic optimism is a vital trait of successful leaders and is yearned for by employees. This optimism helps individuals navigate harsh realities while maintaining a positive mindset, ultimately leading to resilience and growth. As Kate Nasser, The People Skills Coach™, says, great leaders are optimistic and realistic, striking a balance between healthy scepticism and avoiding pessimism and jadedness.

Realistic optimism is not about ignoring the harsh realities of life; it is about acknowledging them while maintaining a positive outlook. Ciara Lancaster, author of "Reimagine Change," emphasises the importance of facing harsh realities and leveraging our innate resilience to overcome challenging situations. Real optimism requires looking at the world through a trauma-informed lens, recognising the importance of embracing difficulties and using them as opportunities for growth.

Javier Fiz Pérez, a professor of psychology, explains that optimism is the key to cultivating our human potential. In societies with abundant opportunities, the environment favours optimists. Optimists may experience setbacks, but these difficulties become enriching experiences. In contrast, a pessimistic realist might avoid disappointments, but they may miss out on the potential for growth and success. Realistic optimism becomes a powerful tool for progress and fulfilment in today's world, where opportunities abound.

Realistic optimism is not blind positivity; it requires a proper positive and negative perspective on our lives. Dr Gary Small, a physician and expert on brain health, explains that healthy optimists are realistic, recognising the positive elements in their lives while remaining aware of their limitations. By maintaining this balanced perspective, individuals can better cope with anxiety and navigate challenges.

Optimism pays heed to the reality and risks of failure, recognising the positive aspects of losses and negative experiences and using them as learning opportunities. Realistic optimists prepare and plan for potential setbacks while staying positive and focused on possibility, hope, and success. They understand that their outlook has a profound impact on their circumstances.

Optimism is a personal trait and a vital ingredient for societal progress. Javier Fiz Pérez emphasises that optimism is more than just a belief in a better future; it is the driving force that motivates individuals to address challenges and work towards improvement. In societies filled with abundant opportunities, optimism becomes a resource for success. Through an optimistic lens, individuals see the potential for positive change, fostering resilience, growth, and better relationships.

Optimism and realism are not contradictory; they are two sides of the same coin. Simon Terry, a management consultant, explains that optimism is about hope for a better future, while realism acknowledges the present reality. Managers and leaders must embrace hope and optimism to validate their potential for improvement. Hope becomes the driving force behind their ability to bring about positive change. Hope and optimism become crucial for driving progress in a world where the future is uncertain.

Realistic optimism is not about pretending to be happy or denying the existence of problems. Instead, it is about choosing to see ourselves, others, and the world through a lens of resilience and believing that things will ultimately work out. Furthermore, it is about facing challenges head-on while maintaining faith in humanity and the potential for support and collaboration. Sabina Read, a psychologist, highlights the importance of nurturing and manifesting realistic optimism in every individual. By adopting this mindset, we can cope better with adversity and hold onto the belief that we can make a positive impact.

Realistic optimists understand the power of their mindset in shaping their circumstances. However, optimism does not guarantee success but influences how individuals approach challenges and pursue their goals.

Professor Joseph Lo Bianco acknowledges that while he considers himself a realist, he recognises the benefits of adopting a personal optimism tempered by a realistic appreciation of constraints and difficulties. This balanced perspective enables individuals to maximise opportunities while staying grounded in reality.

Optimism is an individual attribute and crucial in effective leadership, education, and strategic planning. Leaders with realistic optimism inspire others and create an environment conducive to growth and progress. Optimistic educators help students see unpleasant events as learning opportunities and encourage them to embrace challenges. Realistic optimists understand the twists and turns on the path to success and are not afraid to take risks. By teaching students about optimism, they can cultivate a mindset that embraces opportunities and sees setbacks as part of the learning process.

Realistic optimism is also essential in strategic planning and business strategy. David Sharrock, an expert in strategy and innovation, highlights the significance of optimism in setting ambitious goals and working towards them. Optimism provides the enthusiasm and drive needed to pursue opportunities, even in the face of uncertainty. However, it is essential to balance optimism with realism, acknowledging potential obstacles and planning for contingencies. Optimism becomes a catalyst for action, propelling individuals and organisations towards success.

In conclusion, optimism is not divorced from reality; it is a mindset that combines a realistic understanding of challenges with an unwavering belief in the potential for positive change. Realistic optimists acknowledge the difficulties they face while maintaining a positive outlook and a focus on solutions. This mindset is crucial for effective leadership, personal resilience, societal progress, and strategic planning. By embracing realistic optimism,

Javier Fiz Pérez, Professor Psychology Università Europea di Roma

“A realist sees reality, and says, “This is real.” An optimist sees his dreams, and says, “This will be real.” An optimist will meet with greater success, will attain more of his dreams, is happier, grows more, and has better relationships and greater self-esteem than a pessimist. Perhaps in other times this would not have been the case, but in the society in which we are fortunate to live, where there are abundant opportunities, the environment favors optimists. Optimists will suffer more setbacks than realists, but actually, these difficulties are enriching experiences. In the not-very-remote past, or in other societies today, perhaps the most intelligent option would be to be a pessimistic realist and avoid disappointments. However, times have changed, and in places where opportunities abound, they favor the optimist.”

Mark Matthews, former soldier and diplomat

“Optimism is a source of inspiration, in ourselves as well as others. We want to connect with optimists! Optimism is not (just) bravery. It's the sense of creating positive, forward momentum. This does not give us the right to abrogate our responsibility and accountability for outcomes. We cannot be 'blind'. We have to have a strong sense of reality to navigate the path to success, as well as highly developed situational awareness - the foresight to predict and understand the consequences of our actions. Reflection and critique should not be seen as pessimism, nor an opportunity to cynically blame others for the things for which we are responsible.”

John Hagel, Author of "The Journey Beyond Fear"

“Optimism is the key to cultivating more of our human potential. We have infinite potential, but most of us tap into a very small portion of our potential because of fear or an inability to imagine the possibilities. Optimism is essential, but so is a realistic sense of the obstacles and roadblocks we will face on our journey. In fact, that is what will motivate us to make the journey because the opportunity is so big that it is worth addressing the challenges along the way.”

Ilona Jerabek, President & CEO, PsychTests

"Optimism isn't about pretending to be happy when you're not, acting like problems don't exist, or taking chances on blind faith. It also doesn't mean that you should repress your negative thoughts. Those are the kind of pie-in-the-sky optimists who refuse to accept reality as it is and can actually be quite reckless. The best outlook is optimism with a dose of realism. These are the optimists who recognize that there is a lesson in every negative situation and every failure. They prepare and plan ahead in case something could go wrong, but they also stay positive and focus on possibility, hope, and success. Most importantly, they understand that their outlook has a huge impact on their circumstances, and as our study and many other studies have shown, the benefits of being optimistic are numerous. You don't have to force yourself to be cheerful. Just strive to remember that how you view a situation impacts how you cope with it and how you approach it. So why not do so with an attitude of hope, promise, and positivity?"

Sabina Read, Psychologist

"I'm forever optimistic that realistic optimism can be nurtured and manifested in every single one of us.

"It's not about being glass-half-full or wearing a smile on your dial, but rather about choosing to see ourselves, each other and the world around us through a lens that we will be OK. Things work out in the end.

"Through the lenses of realism and optimism, we cope better, preserve hope, have faith in humanity, and hold the belief that we are here to help and support one another, regardless of the adversity and challenges that cross our paths."

Tim Kasser, Professor & Chair of Psychology, Knox College, Illinois and Author of The High Price of Materialism

“I’ve long told my students at Knox College that part of my job as their professor is to “pop their unrealistically optimistic bubbles.” But I am not trying to make them into pessimists. Instead, I hope my students come to be realistic optimists, people who can look at whatever situation they face, assess it clearly and objectively, and then still believe that there is something they can do to improve their lives and the state of the world.”

Jey Srikantha, CEO at GetSignature (and paraplegic)

"I'm a glass-half-full guy, okay? There are always two sides to everything, and I choose to see the glass being half full.

"Reflecting on my past and being a paraplegic and before my injury and during, and in my recovery now towards trying to walk again, I think it's something to do with what I've seen, growing up with my family, my parents, my mum in particular. There's this thing about the undying human spirit, right? No matter what happens, we can do this.

"Let's go back to Adam and Eve, the very first man and woman to today, all of us are here because they kept going. They never gave up.

“It doesn't matter with our own kids, or the neighbours' kids, or the kids that we see; the next generations are here, and they are looking at the world with wonder and awe, and you look up the skies, and you see the stars.

"I mean, man, this is an amazing universe that we are living in. And it could be multi-verse, right? So just think about the possibilities. That's what's makes me optimistic."

Professor Joseph Lo Bianco, Professor of Language and Literacy, Melbourne Graduate School of Education

“In general terms I would call myself a realist rather than an optimist. I know that things go wrong, that there is much injustice in the world, but that there are many reasons and benefits to be had from a more optimistic outlook, however I do not believe it can always be justified on the evidence around us. I have a clear and present pessimistic streak, which I believe would overwhelm if allowed to and so I must combat it. I usually confront the pessimism with a forced dose of realistic analysis and as a result I occasionally enjoy the fruits of the optimist’s worldview. So, I cannot claim to be naturally either optimistic nor pessimistic, I am realistic about events and circumstances. I recognise that some people are disposed towards optimism, either for themselves or more generally for the social environment of which they are a part, and some are even optimistic about the world in the most general terms. Others are pessimistic in an identical mirror of the optimists. I think neither is entirely warranted, nor wrong. I also recognise that from a personal point of view an optimistic outlook is healthier, and provides more resilience in life. Optimism itself can become a resource for improvement, whereas pessimism can and does drag people down, infecting the individual with a defeatist attitude that itself causes failure, sadness and worse. In light of all this I believe the ideal would be to have personal optimism, leavened by a realistic appreciation of constraints, difficulties and injustices. I cannot assess whether I personally achieve this.”

Andrzej Smiech

"Realistic optimism is the ability to balance out negative and positive things in situations, circumstances and people. It is the courage to explore opportunities, where others are blocked by risk and failure, with the belief that the future will be better than the past...

"When we face the dilemma of what will become the basis for our decisions and actions — a pessimistic or optimistic vision of the future — it is worth remembering that we do not have to function in this dichotomy. There is still realistic optimism, which takes into account all the circumstances of the crisis and gives us hope for the future."

Anna Fifield in "Put aside the grim. Here are lots of reasons to feel optimistic (and to make them happen)"

"There are many people around us who see reasons to be optimistic and many reasons to think that we, individually and collectively, can bring about positive change in our communities and our wider world. They are not foolhardy Panglosses, but people who practise “realistic optimism”.

"Realistic optimism involves setting achievable goals and working towards them. Realistic optimists are aware of the challenges and know the road ahead is rocky. But they know that action needs to be taken and believe that success is possible."

Roger Dennis, a consultant on future thinking, strategy and innovation, quoted by Anna Fifield.

"Realistic optimists expect the path to success will be difficult and anticipate some of the problems that might occur. Like all good futures thinking, the power of this approach does not come from accurate predictions, but from the difficult conversations that arise when considering how to navigate potential future issues.

"The opposite approaches to realistic optimism include cognitive paralysis, where thinking about the future is considered too hard, and conscious ignorance.

"At the moment the world has many problems including threats to democracy, climate change, inequality, deforestation, ocean acidification and the pandemic.

"To address these challenges and create more anti-catastrophes we need more realistic optimists."

Hannah Ritchie, Our World in Data

"We need a new message for climate change. One that drives action through optimism that things can be better. Or, based on the signs that things are getting better, we might rebrand this optimism as realism. This would be much more effective at driving real change, and would save a lot of mental strife in the process. It’s time to stop telling our children that they’re going to die from climate change. It’s not only cruel, it might actually make it more likely to come true."

Raya Bidshahri, Founder & CEO of Awecademy

“There is nothing to be gained from blind optimism. But an optimistic mindset can be grounded in rationality and evidence. It may be hard to believe, but we are living in the most exciting time in human history. Despite all of our ongoing global challenges, humanity has never been better off. Not only are we living healthier, happier, and safer lives than ever before, but new technological tools are also opening up a universe of opportunities.”

Dr. Craig Sawchuk, Mayo Clinic psychologist

"It's important to have a positive outlook. The brain is naturally hard-wired to pay attention toward threat. That's actually superadaptive for our brain to do, in that it helps with our survival mode. But what's been happening over the course of 2020 has been one threat after another, after another, after another. We actually have to work harder to shift that focus. It's not trying to ignore the fact that we've had a lot of struggles, and there's a lot of things that we're dealing with. But trying to maintain an upbeat positive attitude is extremely important. You can be optimistic, and you can also be realistic at the same time."

Professor Lisa Bortolotti, University of Birmingham

“The belief that was optimistically-biased to start with will become more and more realistic over time, because I am ready to change myself in order to change the outcome of my efforts, practising until I actually become a better driver and my chances of success increase. Optimism is never a guarantee of success, but it can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Isn’t that what agency is all about, intervening on ourselves and our environment to make the world closer to how we’d like it? Sounds like a good life to me.”

The Honourable Jonathan O’Dea, Speaker of the NSW Parliament

“An attitude of optimism should involve more than just wishful thinking and prompt positive action. It can recognise that current reality is not ideal, while anticipating better things to come. True optimism creates confidence to push for change and confront inevitable difficulties in that journey. Remaining optimistic in these uncertain times is not naïve; rather, it is a reasonable expression of expectation and faith in a world that contains many signs of hope for the future.”

Matt Joski, Sheriff, Kewaunee County

“Optimism is the engine that powers resiliency. While there are many character strengths which we all possess, they are all deficient unless supported by and deeply rooted in Optimism. We are impacted in everything from personal relationships to physical health by the existence or absence of Optimism. This powerful trait is not one founded in the denial of reality or refusal of circumstances, but rather the unyielding belief that even our darkest hours bring with them hope and empowerment.”

Chris Drake, The Mother and Child Health and Education Trust

“As Alexander Pope put it: "Hope springs eternal in the human breast" and if we shut down hope, optimism and trust in goodness we are shutting down an inherent part of what it means to be a human being, i.e. to envision and then move towards a better tomorrow, with head, heart and hands. Having built our castle in the sky we do then have to lay its foundations on the ground in the muddy realities of today but not to aim for it is to condemn ourselves to it never happening.

“This is not to advocate a blind and naive expectation that there will not be setbacks, difficulties and failures or that we should ignore the benefit, prudence and necessity of precaution, planning, a fallback plan B and sometimes some healthy cynicism but. learning as we go along, we must look ahead with a smile, positivity and confidence if we are to have any chance of building the future we want. We might make it and we not make it, but if we don't try we surely won't.

“Pessimism closes the heart and soul, blinkers the eyes and lowers the head. It shuts off dreams and limits the horizon of possibilities. Optimism opens the heart, lightens up and lifts the spirit, boosts morale and stretches our vision to new realms, forging a bridge from an envisaged future, to which our heart soars, back to the present where we can work to make it happen.”

David Sharrock, author of Fighting for Enterprise Success: through the eye of the tiger.

"With business strategy itself, optimism needs to underpin and influence strategic direction and planning. Setting a strategic direction that will enable a business to stand out in the marketplace from all others in the same industry is premised on hope, namely, hope for a better future for the business as it works to its competitive advantage. It then takes the formation and implementation of planning to enable the overall strategy to work. The mindset of a leader and team members alike is essential here. There is no room for half-belief when they are working to an agreed strategy. There is no point in them setting goals and plans with a negative mindset while contemplating failure and envisaging defeat. They must envisage the end result and work wholeheartedly toward its achievement, full of hope, and sharing an optimism that all their efforts will be successful in the end. Their optimism must not be disingenuous. It must be grounded in reality and tested against milestones, reassuring them that good progress is being made.

"When it comes to good business strategy, hope fuels optimism, just like a match lights a fire, while optimism acts like oxygen, keeping the flames alight."

Sue Barrett, Author of the “Selling Better Manifesto"

“It all starts with opportunity. Opportunity makes it possible to do good things. Optimism is ignited when real opportunities for growth and prosperity become clear to us. Different from blind optimism, Purposeful Optimism is built on substance: derived from strategy and underpinned by well-resourced people who are enabled to pursue opportunity and do something meaningful with others. Optimism keeps the light of opportunity glowing even when the world seems dark."

Vikas Arora

"Maintain a rational optimism. Today, and every day, is the most important to have optimism on your side. Take the positive, future view of every situation, but stay grounded in reality. We've seen firsthand in 2020 how a false sense of positivity and optimism only has short-term benefits for any leader.

"Irrationally optimistic people are perceived as lacking credibility. As the saying goes: "You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time." Remember, this is a long game, and you will need people at your side for the full race.

"To maintain your optimism, expect the unexpected, focus on the positive, and make your move. The perfect plan is unattainable– don't hold back waiting for it."

Realistic Optimism - The Key to Professional Success and Career Development (May 2024)

"Realistic optimism is a powerful mindset that supports professional success and career development by fostering resilience, motivation, and adaptive thinking. By maintaining a positive outlook while also acknowledging the realities of the professional world, individuals can navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and achieve their goals with confidence and determination. Cultivating realistic optimism is not only beneficial for career growth but also for overall well-being and fulfillment in life."

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