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- Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
- Kategorie: Ratgeber
- Sprache: Englisch
Heartwarming, inspiring story on the power of optimism when you find yourself in a dark place
Audacious Optimism delivers a riveting account of Shanna Adamic's journey from a highly successful career as a corporate philanthropist and former professional cheerleader, to surviving a rare and life-threatening brain tumor, to limited mobility and a 4% chance of regaining facial function on her right side, to her complete recovery and developing an unwavering dedication to optimism. This book teaches readers how to rally from within and push through those terrifying moments in life, when you've got it all on the line, and when the odds are looking slim, to find the hope and courage needed to make it through the darkness and out into a life full of wonder and joy.
Now an executive leader at Oracle, Adamic's story is one that everyone can learn from. In this book, readers will find insight on:
- Embracing the unknown, igniting willpower, and envisioning beyond the impossible
- Finding the strength to mindfully choose optimism, even in the darkest of times
- Leveraging optimism in every arena throughout your entire life to become an unstoppable force
Audacious Optimism is an inspiring, motivational, at times heart-wrenching, and completely relatable journey that will inspire anyone facing adversity, seeking to find their inner optimism, and live their absolute best life.
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Seitenzahl: 355
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024
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Table of Contents
Cover
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Introduction
My Journey
Your Journey
Notes
A Mindful Choice
CHAPTER 1: The Fall
August 2017: Whispers Within
September 2017: Losing a Word
November 2017: Lost in the Impossible
Audacious Optimism in Action
Trust Yourself
Note
CHAPTER 2: My Roots
Audacious Optimism in Action
Embrace the Unknown
CHAPTER 3: North Star
Audacious Optimism in Action
Mental Toughness
CHAPTER 4: Champion Spirit
Audacious Optimism in Action
CHAPTER 5: Health Journey Begins
2011: Shanna Land
2012: The Journey Begins
2013: Blinded by Love
2014: The Unexpected When Expecting
2015: Second Time’s a Charm
Audacious Optimism in Action
Note
CHAPTER 6: Voice Silenced
2016: As the World Turns
Fall 2016: Rinse and Repeat
Winter 2016: You’re Fine
Audacious Optimism in Action
Note
CHAPTER 7: Without a Spark
New Year’s Eve, 2016: Vodka Salad
Spring 2017: Drink Your V-8
Audacious Optimism Action Steps
Let's Recharge
CHAPTER 8: The Diagnosis
Fall 2017: A Golf Ball
Audacious Optimism in Action
CHAPTER 9: Big Surgery, Big Outcome
December 2017: Let It Go
January 2018: Redefine the Impossible
Audacious Optimism in Action
CHAPTER 10: My Fight Song
Audacious Optimism in Action
CHAPTER 11: I Will
Audacious Optimism in Action
CHAPTER 12: Beautiful Brain
January 2019: The Machine
January 2022: Strong Side
Audacious Optimism in Action
Afterword
Special Mention of the Acoustic Neuroma Association
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Index
End User License Agreement
Guide
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Introduction
Table of Contents
Begin Reading
Afterword
Special Mention of the Acoustic Neuroma Association
About the Author
Index
End User License Agreement
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Praise for Audacious Optimism
“Shanna’s outlook on optimism is a powerful message for patients or anyone going through challenging times. Her bravery in the face of adversity and her determination to maintain hope despite life’s obstacles is an inspiring reminder of the power of mental strength.”
—Douglas Anderson, MDProfessor of Neurosurgery, Loyola University Medical Center
“My connection with Shanna goes far beyond her health journey. She has always exuded a strong sense of hope, and I knew she would face her diagnosis and recovery with that same determination. I will always remember the first picture she sent me, with her beaming smile during the crucial first weeks of her recovery. I thought to myself, she's truly remarkable—hope is an invaluable resource for any patient.”
—Amy L. Pittman, MDAssociate Professor, Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center
“In her book Audacious Optimism, Shanna uses her inspiring storytelling to ignite a fire within us. She is an extraordinary woman—someone whose beauty radiates not just from her outward appearance but from the depths of her spirit. Her powerful message of audacious optimism and self-assurance struck a chord with me. I have witnessed firsthand how she harnesses optimism to accomplish great things in her life. Her words serve as a guide for anyone seeking a strong and authentic dose of motivation and inspiration.”
—Jeanette PrengerFounder and CEO of ECCO Select
“What a great book! I could not put it down. Shanna Adamic is a remarkable human being. Her audacious optimism is not a slogan, but the lived experience of a woman who stared down a health journey (or death) and not only survived, but thrived. Her story is moving, authentic, beautifully written, and will inspire and encourage all who read it.”
—Adam HamiltonPastor and author of Wrestling with Doubt and Finding Faith
“When life knocks us down, Shanna Adamic's Audacious Optimism shines as a beacon of hope and resilience to help us back up. With her unique blend of insight and inspiration, Shanna challenges us to embrace optimism as a bold action. Her story and words will not only uplift your spirit but also empower you to tackle life's challenges with audacity. Shanna is a black belt in badassery!”
—Jenn Cassettapodcast host and author of The Art of Badassery: Unleash Your Mojo With Wisdom of the Dojo
“Shanna Adamic's powerful story reminds us of the importance of trusting your own intuition and embracing the future with courage and curiosity. This book encourages you to create new possibilities for yourself—and reveals the power to inspire others when you do.”
—Shanna A. Hockingleadership and philanthropy advisor and author of One Bold Move a Day
SHANNA ADAMIC
Audacious Optimism
THE MINDFUL CHOICE TO LIVE BOLDLY AND CREATE ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES
Copyright © 2025 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved, including rights for text and data mining and training of artificial technologies or similar technologies.
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.Published simultaneously in Canada.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Adamic, Shanna, author.
Title: Audacious optimism : the mindful choice to live boldly and create endless possibilities / Shanna Adamic.
Description: Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2025.
Identifiers: LCCN 2024029660 (print) | LCCN 2024029661 (ebook) | ISBN 9781394289677 (hardback) | ISBN 9781394289691 (adobe pdf) | ISBN 9781394289684 (epub)
Subjects: LCSH: Adamic, Shanna. | Brain—Tumors—Patients—United States—Biography. | Philanthropists—United States—Biography. | Optimism.
Classification: LCC RC280.B7 A25 2025 (print) | LCC RC280.B7 (ebook) | DDC 616.99/4810092 [B]—dc23/eng/20240802
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2024029660
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2024029661
Cover Design: Paul McCarthyCover Photograph: Courtesy of the Author
Mom: Thank you for your love, and for reading meMy Turn On Earth.
Dad:Thank you for loving me. You’ll always be my hero.
Krissy:You left us too soon, sweet friend. With joy forever.
Introduction
Imagine a simple smile transforming your day and potentially changing your entire life.
When someone directs a warm and genuine smile toward you, it's almost impossible not to return the gesture because they are contagious. Yes, contagious, which means you naturally will smile back, if you let yourself.
In fact, when we choose to smile back at someone or even at ourselves in the mirror, our brains release endorphins and serotonin—two powerful ingredients that ignite feelings of happiness and reduce stress. A genuine smile has the power to instantly shift our mindset, infuse hope into our thoughts, and boost our confidence all because we made the choice to smile—a choice deeply rooted in optimism.
Optimism is an incredible force that resides within each one of us. It's a power that we can tap into and utilize every single day, affecting our interactions with others, shaping our experiences, and ultimately influencing our outcomes. The key is making the mindful choice to harness this power, and sometimes the spark of optimism can be lit by the simple yet powerful act of smiling.
Go ahead and try it—smile.
My Journey
I grew up in small-town Liberty, Missouri, in the 1980s, ready for action, set on finding adventure, and filled with youthful joy. Double braids in my hair and a huge smile on my face, I had big dreams and plans to accomplish every single one of them. I believed I could do anything and be anyone.
There was a certain magic to the wild innocence of those days—the warm summers spent pedaling bikes for hours, leaving them in a neighbor's yard before running off with friends to the nearby park. The thrill of climbing over fences and taking leaps into an aboveground pool filled every moment with excitement. And after a long day of playing, I'd return home to a welcoming house, surrounded by the scent of freshly cut grass, where the sound of the attic fan echoed through the halls and provided relief from the scorching summer heat.
Every time I close my eyes in the summer, the sound comes rushing back as if it were yesterday. It captures the long, hot days spent picking juicy tomatoes from my mom's garden, watching my dad expertly grill burgers. The humming of the attic fan was more than just a sound—it was a feeling of love, comfort, and family enveloping me in its gentle embrace. As the seasons shifted, the warmth of the open windows welcomed in the cool, crisp breeze of fall, carrying with it the anticipation and excitement of Christmas.
As the holiday season approached, I looked forward to wearing cozy pajamas with my older brothers by my side and watching the movie A Christmas Story. The warmth of the fireplace felt comforting as we lay on the floor in front of the TV covered with a blanket right by our beautifully decorated tree. It was a magical time in our lives, until Christmas of 1989 when everything changed. That was the year my father lost his battle against leukemia and lymphoma after months of fighting at the VA hospital. I was just nine years old.
A few days before he died, my mom took us to see him. As I walked into the hospital, I was scared. Everything felt sad, looked brown, smelled sterile, and sounded like incessant beeping. I didn't want my daddy to be there; I wanted him home with us, healthy and not hooked up to machines.
When is Daddy going to come home? I thought to myself as we turned the corner to his room. I will never forget the image of him sitting on the side of his bed—a navy robe wrapped around his painfully thin body, his head hung low, and his brown skin sagging from his face—holding a medical IV pole. My dad had always been full of life, with a huge personality to match and a laugh that could pour sunshine into any dark room. Now the cancer had made him almost unrecognizable to me.
My mom and brothers walked in and hugged him. I slid through the door and sat quietly at the end of the uncomfortable hospital bed, listening to them talk. I just stared at my dad, taking in every feature while the noise around me sounded like the indecipherable adults in the Charlie Brown cartoons. My body was buzzing with a nervous energy that I didn't understand.
My dad stared into my eyes with a mixture of love and sadness. With a weak smile, he reached out and placed his hand on mine. In that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of comfort and security. “I love you,” he said, his voice filled with emotion. My face lit up with a smile, and I said, “I love you too, Daddy!” And then, with a soft chuckle and a wide grin revealing his imperfect teeth, he leaned over and whispered, “Never stop smiling.”
His infectious charm and larger-than-life personality were like medicine for my soul. I held onto his every word, not wanting to let go of this perfect moment. Though life is fleeting, and he was taken from us far too soon.
The memory of my dad's words in that hospital room has never left me, and each morning I greet the day and myself with a determined smile. However, as someone who spent years dancing on the sidelines for the National Football League (NFL) as a professional cheerleader, I can attest that life is not just about flashy touchdown celebrations or big wins. Life is a complex dance of the highest highs and the lowest lows, and sometimes those smiles don't come easily.
Life is wonderful, but hard. It's about how you pick yourself up when you're down, how you dance through defeat, how you smile despite how impossible or daunting the moment might feel for finding an ember of hope in such dark moments. That's the true mark of a champion. My champion spirit was refined with my life experiences and polished as a professional athlete with the Kansas City Chiefs—when the clock is running out and hope seems lost, that's when you need a cheerleader spirit the most. It's about igniting that spark, rallying the crowd, and turning the game around against all odds.
We might not all have a squad or pom-poms on standby for tough times, but we've got something even more powerful: the ability to rally from within. It's the power to choose optimism, which at times, can start with a simple smile, harnessing our inner cheerleader to push through fear and stand tall when the stakes and odds of failure are both high. It's facing challenges with a calm, resilient spirit, and a will that's patient yet unyielding.
This is audacious optimism—bold hope and confidence in the future. While I didn't know it at the time, this spirit lived in me decades ago.
Financial struggles hit hard after my dad passed; my parents had poured their paychecks and my mom had poured her support into his years of doctor appointments, failed treatments, and gaps in insurance coverage. We relied on the generosity of our church's pantry at times just to get by. We were also blessed with an incredible extended family who stepped in when we needed it most.
My mom was my first example of audacious optimism. After my father's passing, she fought tooth and nail to keep our lives as enchanting as they had always been. Even if her personality didn't outwardly project strength and she herself didn't feel it—I saw it. She found a way to push past the doubt and fear and seek opportunity in the darkness even if only for the sake of loving her kids.
I've always actively searched for the opportunity in every obstacle. I have lived a life full of many privileges and many challenges—facing difficult struggles and experiencing loss. Through it all, I have persevered and emerged stronger. I have also soared, fueled by my intentional and mindful choice to live life as an optimist and fight for my smile to take form in the face of adversity.
Even today, I choose to see opportunity with confidence when the way ahead looks dark. My cup, though at times it feels as if it might slip from my hand and shatter, has never been half empty. Even in those moments where I almost lost my grip, it has always been full of possibility and potential. My optimism is bold and empowers me to make positive change and envision a better future with hope and confidence.
Audacious optimism is my North Star, illuminating the path ahead as I face every challenge with determination. It serves as a constant reminder of the boundless power in making a mindful choice, trusting myself, having the courage to stay curious and embrace the unknown, tapping into my mental toughness by declaring, “I will,” and taking bold steps toward what once seemed impossible.
This philosophy isn't just a one-time decision, but a daily practice of small, positive actions that ultimately lead to profound results. It became my lifeline during the most trying time of my life—battling a life-threatening brain tumor—and continues to guide me through every challenge that will come.
From 2011 to 2017, I engaged with my primary care physician (PCP), various specialists, and multiple hospitals 109 times. One hundred and nine times. The average woman in her 30s sees a doctor just a few times per year. My health was spiraling, and I could not figure out why. The journey to a credible diagnosis was long, and the road was rocky. It nearly broke my belief and trust in myself—my instinct, my voice. I felt crazy. I felt weak. I sought answers for a problem that doctors assured and reassured me was not there.
After being misdiagnosed, underdiagnosed, underinformed, given lifestyle advice connected with being a woman, and written off with symptoms of being a tired working mom, I finally received the answer I needed. I was diagnosed with a rare, life-threatening, though benign, brain tumor. It was the answer I needed, not the one I expected or wanted at all.
When that life-altering diagnosis finally came, my self-trust rushed back through my body like water bursting through a dam. I was also overwhelmed with the terrifying knowledge and uncertainty of what I would face. It took me six years to get to this point, and I was not letting six more years go by before I had the right care plan in place. Truth is, I didn't have six years—I had one. One year.
Over the course of my health care journey, what I felt the health care professionals saw each time I sought medical attention on the outside was a healthy and high-functioning female. However, what they couldn't see on the inside was that I was begging for intelligent and connected care that could identify the problem my body knew was there. I had to learn and relearn how to be my own advocate and press the doctors to pay attention to my symptoms. I needed to share my entire journey and story—struggling to raise my voice when I began feeling defeated along the way.
I had to dig deep to find a single ember of hope in total darkness. Not only was I physically struggling with headaches, hearing loss, speech complications, and loss of balance, but I was also mentally and emotionally spent. I questioned and doubted myself, wondering whether I was overreacting or making things up. It was in those moments I had to learn to choose audacity over defeat, determination over uncertainty. I knew what I felt, and what I felt wasn't normal.
My prognosis was a one-year life expectancy without the right surgery and care plan. The first care plan I discussed with doctors after my diagnosis included multiple surgeries and radiation—for me personally, this didn't offer much hope. My instincts kicked in and I exercised my right as a patient knowing I needed a second opinion, and I needed it fast. Frantically, I contacted other doctors and hospitals, and they wouldn't schedule me without a referral. Getting a second opinion on my own was impossible. I turned to social media—a modern marvel that became a beacon of hope. I shared my story, and within hours I had a glimmer. A response came from an old college friend, now a physician and surgeon, who ended up working with the team of doctors addressing my specific tumor.
Before long, I found myself connected with a team in Chicago, Illinois, whose second opinion included a big surgery and a tough recovery, but a promising outcome. This was my chance to take back my life! It also meant leaving behind the familiar comfort of my local care and community of support, but I was determined to do whatever it took to ensure that my body, brain, and future were in the right hands.
Thankfully, I had the resources and support I needed to make this journey possible—a barrier that needs to be removed for every person. Determined, I made all necessary arrangements to entrust my health and well-being to this new team of experts.
Embarking on a journey to find care and undergo surgery was a leap into the unknown, far from a guaranteed win. My optimism was tested, and that light almost went dark.
Looking back on my journey and my dad's battle, I recognize too many similarities. Three decades later, and, like my mom, I had to navigate the winding, confusing, and unfair US health care system. Maybe my father would have survived with an early diagnosis, the right care plan, digitized and connected health care, and the financial backing that would have given him access to necessary resources. As a child, I held tight to my father as he fought hard, battling a disease against all odds, and I watched my mom struggle to get him the care he deserved.
Sadly, we are not the only family who has gotten lost in the maze of health care. The system is full of noise: the rapid speed of digital innovation, the systemic bias causing mis- and missed diagnoses, the unequal and nonexistent access to dignified care, the endless demand on doctors to see hundreds of patients, and the slow disappearance of the lifelong family practitioner. There's so much beeping, so many hallways, and too many closed doors. Optimism in health care can sometimes feel impossible for patients and providers, yet it is essential for healing. We need hope for our future and confidence and belief in humanity in health care.
After college, I joined a company that was working to transform health care by digitizing the medical records to eliminate waste, error, variance, and delay. It instilled in me that health care is personal and too important to stay the same. As a part of the charitable pediatric foundation First Hand Foundation I launched my serendipitously fateful philanthropy career, leading the charge to remove financial barriers to essential health care for children around the world.
I never imagined experiencing the depths of health care as personally as I have, at least not so young. Thankfully, my professional and personal experiences provided the source of knowledge and power I needed in 2017 to find the right approach, plan, and team to restore my normal life—as a woman, wife, mother, sister, friend, and colleague.
That's why in 2018, I underwent a nearly 13-hour translabyrinthine craniotomy to remove the tumor. My second opinion gave me my second chance at life.
My recovery from brain surgery was brutal. Instead of cheering for a football team, I had to become my own cheerleader and encourage myself. I had to become an active participant in my own recovery and accept, appreciate, and love the parts of me that had changed. I had to lean into optimism as a choice that many times felt gritty and hard. I needed audacious optimism to love myself and take back my life.
Many times, I had to fight to tap into my mental toughness by telling myself, I will heal. I will put one foot in front of the other. I will face the frail woman staring back at me in the mirror and love her deeply. The power of optimism in those moments fueled my soul. I had been right that something was wrong, and experts had missed it; now there was no one I trusted more than myself. I let my renewed self-trust fill me with the confidence that I would come out of this challenge as a stronger version of myself and determined to make a change for others.
While on a slow and grueling recovery journey, I made progress. To keep going, I made a list of seemingly simple goals and placed it on that bathroom mirror where, daily, I faced an unfamiliar and worn-down woman staring back at me:
I will smile with all my teeth.
I will close my right eye completely.
I will chew on both sides of my mouth.
I will regain my balance.
I will be a better version of me.
To others, these goals might seem modest, but for me, they were monumental. I recited them daily, a mantra to keep me focused and determined. Each day was a testament to the strength of my mindset over my pain and frailty. Even in the darkest times of my health journey, I never imagined hearing my own voice as clearly as I do today. I wasn't going to allow my pain to become a heavy weighted backpack through my life. No, my pain was going to push me closer to my purpose, and it started with “I will.” There is immense power in saying, “I will.”
At the beginning, doctors had given me a mere 4% chance of regaining my smile. Today, I'm thrilled to share that I defied those odds, and my cheeky smile has made a full comeback—and I know my dad is smiling right back at me!
It was a miraculous transformation, one that I could hardly believe at first. I was truly living, seeing, and understanding the power of resilience and determination. I had faced the most difficult battle of my life and pushed through it. Asking the hard questions and facing my deepest fears were essential parts of the journey. The weight of them sat heavy on my chest, threatening to suffocate me. When I put pen to paper and wrote them down, a sense of clarity washed over me. I could see each fear for what it truly was: a challenge to be overcome, not a barrier to hold me back. The act of confronting them head-on was empowering.
And with each passing day, I felt myself growing stronger physically and mentally. As I looked in the mirror, I no longer saw a weak, terrified stranger. I saw someone who had overcome incredible odds and emerged stronger because of it. I saw my smile.
For me, it was a journey of sheer will, a battle fought with the strength of hope and a champion spirit.
Facing this unimaginable health journey challenged my approach to optimism and taught me the profound power of a mindful choice.
It's about standing toe to toe with your deepest fears and choosing to see beyond them. It's about recognizing that fear is nothing more than a challenge to be met with courage and curiosity. When confronted, the fear diminishes, and all that's left is your true potential.
This newfound strength isn't just a fleeting feeling; it's a transformative force. It's the kind of optimism that shatters ceilings and redefines boundaries. It's what kept me standing, cheering, and looking forward with hope, a smile on my face, even when life gave me its worst.
Your Journey
Dear reader, if there is one thing you take from this book it is that your mind is a powerful force. Let it choose optimism, even in the darkest of times. Let it open your eyes to opportunities where others, yourself included, may see only obstacles. Let it give you courage—the kind that knows no limits as you face challenges head-on, curious and eager to learn and unafraid to fail. And above all, let it make you bold enough to never give up on yourself, constantly showing up for yourself with unshakable determination.
So what is the recipe for audacious optimism? Great question! There are four elements. I say elements intentionally, because they are all essential ingredients, and it begins with a mindful choice. Our choices are mirrors of our true selves. They showcase what we value, what we want, and what we prioritize. When we choose to be kind instead of resentful or brave instead of afraid, we shape our identity. Optimism is found in the power of choice—it is not a passive feeling. Choosing optimism is understanding that we can shape ourselves, every single step, response and outcome, through the hopeful and confident decisions we make.
When choosing to approach life with optimism you automatically step into the next element: trust yourself. Trust your inner voice, the one that rings loud and clear in your mind and heart, urging you to act and speak your truth. Your instinct. Your gut feeling. When you silence this voice, you conform to societal expectations, miss out on opportunities, partnerships, and relationships, and limit your potential for growth and happiness.
The third element is to embrace the unknown. At times, it may be uncomfortable and frightening, but it also holds endless possibilities. The unknown can evoke fear and doubt, and it is ever-present on the journey to achieving our dreams. We must accept that we don't know what lies ahead. We must stay curious and have faith that there is always opportunity even if we can only see one step at a time. Take a deep breath in and exhale out, step forward, and bravely face the unknown.
The fourth element is mental toughness. This is the quality of being able to remain strong and determined when facing challenges. It goes beyond just being resilient; it is a refusal to give up even when the odds seem insurmountable. Mental toughness is refined when you remove words such as “should,” “could,” and “would” from your vocabulary, fearlessly declaring instead, “I will!” Speak your vision for the future as if it is already yours. When we declare confidently that we will achieve something, we are claiming our future. This powerful statement propels us forward and sets things in motion. Remember, this is not just for individuals. Leaders can adopt this mental toughness as a strategy for success for their team or company culture, by changing “I will” to “we will”—fostering a sense of unity and shared resilience and determination.
When all of these elements are practiced—mindful choice, trust yourself, embrace the unknown, and mental toughness—the seemingly impossible can happen. When we first align our thoughts with hopeful and confident determination, what seemed out of reach now feels attainable. It all starts with you, your mind, and the power to transform your thoughts so they’re filled with opportunity, hope, and belief in your future.
Let me also be clear on what audacious optimism is not. It is not just a fleeting thought or an occasional feeling—it is bold, mindful, deliberate.
Optimism cannot be passively waited for; it must be actively chosen. It's not a feeling or emotion. It's not something you can wait for or expect to just happen to you. It's a mindful decision, one that we must make every day and in every situation. We all have natural tendencies toward positivity or negativity, but at the end of the day, optimism is a choice that anyone can make at any time.
Optimism is also not synonymous with positivity or happiness. While they are important and can fuel optimism, they too are rooted in emotion and can sometimes serve as a toxic excuse for denying less-than-ideal situations. In fact, the pressure to appear “positive” or “fine” all the time will hinder a genuine response and emotional experience. This leads to overwhelming and internalized stress and emotional suppression.1 Optimism can be chosen even without initial feelings of positivity because it is a conscious decision rather than an emotion.
Similarly, happiness may be seen as the end goal of choosing optimism, but it is not interchangeable with optimism. Happiness is temporary and finite, while optimism can continually cultivate joy and contentment. Use optimism as a tool to achieve happiness, but don't confuse the two concepts.
As I have said, this has become my anchor, my daily practice, and my life strategy. This practice for me starts every day at 6 a.m. when my alarm goes off. The first thing I do is get up from my bed without hitting snooze—a small and powerful act of determination. I make my way to the bathroom. There, I look at myself in the mirror and smile—yes, I smile at my half-awake and hair-not-brushed self. This is a simple action that can completely transform my mood because it creates a spark of joy and hope. It may seem insignificant, but smiling at yourself is where optimism can take form.
Next, whether in the shower, walking my dog, preparing my morning coffee, or, if time allows, on the yoga mat, I take intentional deep breaths, inhaling stress, doubt, or fears that may be lingering in my mind from yesterday’s stress or today’s agenda and exhaling strength and confidence. For me, box breathing, also known as square breathing, is the method I choose because it is perfect for combating stress.2 But regardless of whether the time or place allows for a formal breathing exercise, I just take a simple breath and release it. This simple practice helps me ground myself and set the right tone for the day ahead, one that I can repeat throughout the day if needed. I also find that it allows me to take a moment to be grateful for the gifts in my life. Now, sometimes it is tough to be grateful when life has kicked you in the heart, or the kids have been crazy and I haven’t slept, yet this is the moment I need gratitude the most. I find myself, many times, just being thankful for the hot coffee in my hands, and that is a great gift!
Perhaps the most powerful action I take daily to cultivate optimism is my own mental toughness and repeating those two words that I love and, hopefully, have hammered into your brain by now: “I will.” Whether I write it on bright pink Post-it notes scattered across my desk, type it into my phone's notes app, or say it out loud to myself, every method works. It serves as a powerful affirmation that I am capable and determined to accomplish whatever comes my way, big or small: I will make that call, I will do my laundry, I will make it to the gym. It states my intention. Saying “I will” encourages you to commit to your personal power. It is well known that regularly proclaiming intention can align your daily actions with your broader life goals, encouraging you to take action toward your big dreams.
By incorporating a daily practice of optimism into your life, you become more than just an individual—you become an inspiration for those around you. You can turn ambitious dreams into tangible actions and propel yourself and your team—whether at home or work—forward. In the face of adversity, you become a seeker of opportunity and a source of light that brightens every space you enter. You are the ultimate cheerleader, lifting spirits even when faced with impossible odds. With the power of optimism by your side, you can bring about meaningful change for yourself and others.
Choosing optimism is a conscious decision, requiring mindful intentionality. It's about taking small, consistent steps that anchor each day and cultivate the mindset needed to choose, envision and build a brighter future. Like I said, these practices have become my lifeline, and I am eager to share them with you through my personal story.
I invite you to join the ranks of audacious optimists and take control of your own story. This is my intimate tale of how optimism has shaped my life, which I want to share with all of you. Next, I invite you to tell your story and passion for optimism with me at http://audaciousoptimism.com on the Share Your Optimism page.
Thank you for allowing me to share small parts of my life, heart, and health journey with you.
In the words of my dad, “Never stop smiling.”
Notes
1
.
https://nexus.jefferson.edu/health/can-too-much-positivity-be-a-negative
2
.
https://www.verywellhealth.com/breathing-techniques-8382890
A Mindful Choice
Choice is the cornerstone of human existence, an omnipresent force that guides your journey and shapes your identity. The power of choice gives you agency in life, empowering you to take control of your circumstances and navigate through life’s tumultuous waters. It grants you the ability to assert your autonomy and make decisions that align with your values, desires, and dreams. Each choice you make reveals a part of who you are as an individual, capturing your unique preferences, beliefs, and priorities within its delicate folds.
With choice also comes consequence—each decision, no matter how big or small, carries the weight of impact not just on yourself, but on those around you. You must bear the responsibility for these outcomes, whether they be positive or negative. For it is ultimately your choices that guide you down new paths, filled with experiences that mold you into the person you are meant to become. Like painters on a blank canvas, you hold the brush of free will in your hands.
In the end, it is your choices that intricately weave together the fabric of your existence, influence the relationships you form, and define your journey. And when you come to understand that you have a choice in every situation—even amid an unpredictable and sometimes impossible world—you also come to realize that choosing optimism is an audacious act of bravery and trust.
CHAPTER 1The Fall
There are moments that pierce through the fabric of our existence, disrupting the natural flow of space and time. These moments hold such weight and shock that we can pinpoint the single second our lives forever change, whether it be a world event such as 9/11 or the announcement of a global pandemic, a serious accident, an abrupt end to a relationship, losing a job, or worse, a loved one, or receiving a life-altering diagnosis. In those moments of interruption, there is a clear division between before and after. The world seems to shift on its axis, leaving us grasping for stability—frozen. In the midst of this upheaval, it is easy to feel uprooted and powerless. It’s easy to give up the power that is choosing optimism.
Everyone has experienced these moments, and it may feel as though your choice has been taken from you. But the truth is, you always have a choice. You choose how to keep living, how to respond, and how to navigate a new reality. You can't change what happened, but you have control over what you do next—how you choose to move forward and shape your own story.
