What does optimism mean as a core value?
Optimism as a core value means expecting good things from the future and acting on that expectation, looking for what can still be done when plans go wrong.
You tend to assume things will work out and, more importantly, you act as if they will. You still see the challenges. Alongside them sits a working belief that effort pays off, people are mostly decent and setbacks pass. You notice it most around cynicism, which drains you quickly. You’re often the one who lifts a team or a family after bad news, by pointing to what can still be done.
What does optimism look like in practice?
- You start a difficult project by listing what could go right as well as what could go wrong.
- You give new colleagues the benefit of the doubt before they’ve earned it.
- You treat a rejection as useful information for the next attempt.
- You ask your children what they learned from a bad day as well as what went wrong.
- You keep investing in plans during a downturn because you expect it to pass.
When is optimism overplayed?
Unchecked optimism can stop you seeing what’s coming. Deadlines are set too tight, risks go unmentioned, and colleagues with genuine concerns feel dismissed as negative. When things do go wrong, the people who trusted your forecast feel let down. Relentless positivity can also be tiring for others during real difficulty. Healthy optimism looks squarely at the challenge first and still expects to find a way through. Asking the most cautious person on your team to list what might go wrong, and thanking them for it, keeps it honest.
Often confused with
Optimism vs Hope
Hope is believing a good outcome is possible, often when times are hard. Optimism is a more general expectation that things will go well.
Optimism vs Resilience
Resilience is recovering after something goes wrong. Optimism shapes what you expect beforehand, which can make recovery easier.
Optimism vs Enthusiasm
Enthusiasm is energy and excitement for something right now. Optimism is a belief about the future, and it can be quiet and steady.
Questions to sit with
- Which risk are you currently underplaying because you’d rather not think about it?
- Who around you raises concerns you tend to wave away, and what if they’re right?
- What has your optimism made possible that a more cautious person would never have tried?
More values in Wonder
Curiosity, adventure and the thrill of the new.
About the author
Matt Rutherford is a Career and Leadership Coach. The Values Finder is the same exercise he uses with his coaching clients. He also writes Stuff that MattRs, a weekly newsletter with practical ideas to help you think clearer and work better.
Find your own
Is Optimism one of your core values?
Choose from 155 values, narrow them down to the few that matter most, and get a personal report to keep. Free, and it takes about 15 minutes.
Find your core values