Active optimism

I've learned optimism isn't the enemy of action - it's the fuel that powers it.

As Harvard Business Review puts it: "Optimism is seeing problems as challenges that are solvable; it's having the confidence that there are things that we can do to make a difference." I don’t think this is about wearing rose-colored glasses or pretending everything is fine. It's about something far more powerful and practical.

HBR coins many terms for this concept: urgent optimism, pragmatic optimism, realistic optimism, impatient optimism. Call it what you want, but the core remains the same: true optimism is active, not passive.

The confusion comes from a fundamental misunderstanding of what optimism actually means. Some mistakenly see optimism as an excuse for inaction. They think pessimism drives change, and optimism keeps us complacent.

But here's the truth that turns this assumption on its head: the opposite is true.

Let's talk about pessimism for a moment. The definition is straightforward: "a tendency to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen." When you truly believe the worst will happen, when you're convinced that problems are insurmountable, what's your logical response?

You give up. You stop trying. You accept defeat before the battle even begins.

Pessimism creates a self-fulfilling prophecy of inaction.

Optimism, on the other hand, is "hopefulness and confidence about the future or the success of something." But here's where it gets interesting—true optimism isn't blind hope. It's informed confidence coupled with the belief that your actions matter.

When you believe problems can be solved, you look for solutions. When you have confidence in your ability to make a difference, you take action. When you maintain hope about the future, you invest in making that future better.

This is wha HBR calls Active Optimism, and it seems to be another secret weapon of every person who has ever created meaningful change in the world.

Active optimism shows up in the entrepreneur who sees a market problem and thinks, "I can build something to fix this."

It's present in the teacher who looks at struggling students and believes, "I can find a way to reach them."

These people aren't naive. They see the problems clearly—often more clearly than the pessimists around them. But they see problems as puzzles to be solved, not as permanent fixtures of reality.

The difference is profound. Pessimists see a broken world and shrug. Optimists see a broken world and roll up their sleeves.

Another way this gets really powerful: it's impatient. It's urgent. It doesn't wait for perfect conditions or complete certainty. It acts on the belief that things can get better, and it acts now.

This urgency comes from a place of hope, not despair. When you believe change is possible, every day that passes without progress feels like a missed opportunity. When you're confident in your ability to make a difference, inaction becomes intolerable.

Compare this to pessimistic urgency, which stems from fear and often leads to poorly thought-out, reactive decisions. Active optimism creates sustainable urgency—the kind that leads to strategic action and long-term thinking.

So how do you cultivate this mindset? Here are some approaches that have worked for me and others:

• Focus on systems, not just outcomes. Instead of asking "Will this work?" ask "What would need to be true for this to work?" Then work on making those conditions reality.

• Embrace iterative progress. Active optimists understand that most problems aren't solved in one dramatic moment. They're solved through consistent, thoughtful action over time. Celebrate small wins and learn from setbacks.

• Surround yourself with other active optimists. Pessimism is contagious, but so is optimism. Seek out people who share your belief that problems can be solved and that your actions matter.

• Take action before you feel ready. Pessimists wait for perfect conditions. Optimists create better conditions through action. Start before you feel fully prepared, and adjust as you learn.

Here's something beautiful about Active Optimism: it spreads. When people see you tackling problems with confidence and hope, they start to believe those problems can be solved too. Your optimism becomes permission for others to hope and act.

Every day, we face a choice. We can look at the world's problems and feel overwhelmed, or we can look at the world's problems and feel energized.

The world needs more people who see problems as solvable challenges. It needs more people who have confidence in their ability to make a difference. It needs more people who are impatient with the status quo and urgent about creating change.

The world needs more active optimists.