You'll Never Know Enough to Be Pessimistic!

One morning my daughter snapped a photo of me smiling-but behind that smile, my mind was spiralling. I’d joined the dots in my head about a family member, letting worry take over and convincing myself I knew exactly how things would turn out.

I later, listened to Oprah interview Daniel Goleman, the renowned author of Emotional Intelligence. He said something that stopped me in my tracks:"Nobody knows enough to be pessimistic."

I woke up the following morning with that line echoing in my mind.

Why do we so often assume the worst?

Our brains are wired to predict, to fill in the gaps, to try and shield us from disappointment. But as Goleman reminds us, we never have the full picture. There are always unknowns-opportunities, connections, or solutions-that haven’t yet revealed themselves. Something good can happen that you don’t yet know about.

The Competitive Edge of Optimism

Optimism isn’t about blind positivity. It’s about focusing on what you can control and believing your actions can influence outcomes. Goleman’s research shows that optimists see setbacks as temporary and changeable, while pessimists see them as permanent and personal. This shapes how we respond to challenges: optimists take action, seek help, and adapt; pessimists freeze or give up.

#BounceForward: Bouncing Back Is Not an Option.In my own journey-personally and as a keynote speaker-I’ve learned that resilience isn’t about bouncing back to who you were before adversity.

It’s about bouncing forward, growing through what you go through, and staying open to the possibility that tomorrow could surprise you in wonderful ways.

Practical Takeaways

1. When you catch yourself predicting doom, pause and remind yourself: I don’t know enough to be pessimistic.
2. Focus on what you can influence. Take small, positive actions.
3. Stay curious. The next breakthrough, connection, or solution may be just around the corner.

The Invitation

Let’s choose to be possibility-seekers, not fortune-tellers of failure. The world is more unpredictable-and more full of hope-than we can ever know.

You’ll never know enough to be pessimistic. And that’s exactly why optimism is such a powerful, practical choice.

Think about that one area in your life or work where you could apply this mindset!

‍