Episode Details

What does it take to stay optimistic when life is difficult, uncertain, or simply not going according to plan? Kevin sits down with Michelle Gielan to explore the science of resilient optimism. Michelle shares that optimism is more than a feeling; it is a set of behaviors leaders can practice even when they don't feel positive. Michelle explains how resilient optimism combines a realistic view of challenges with the belief that our actions can make a difference. Michelle also shares practical strategies for triaging commitments based on impact rather than urgency, creating opportunities to truly recharge, and developing a simple "best moments" practice that trains the brain to notice progress and possibility.

0:00 Putting Resilience and Optimism Together 1:25 Meet Michelle Gielan 2:45 From Computer Engineer to CBS News Anchor 5:38 Why Michelle Wrote Resilient Optimism 8:18 What Resilient Optimism Is (and Isn't) 10:58 You Don't Have to Feel Optimistic to Act Like an Optimist 12:12 How Optimism Compounds Over Time 15:43 Becoming a Positive Deviant as a Leader 17:47 Case Study: The 10-Minute Morning Meeting 19:42 Case Study: Well-Being First in a School District 21:43 Triaging Your Commitments 26:02 Recharging With Small Cognitive Breaks 29:54 Try This Today: The Best Moments Practice 32:45 What Michelle Is Reading 33:56 Where to Find Resilient Optimism 35:15 Now What?

Michelle's Story: Michelle Gielan is the author of Broadcasting Happiness: The Science of Igniting and Sustaining Positive Change and her latest book, Resilient Optimism: The Science of Sustaining a Positive Mindset in Tough Times. She is a positive psychology researcher, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and former national news anchor. For more than 15 years, she has studied how optimism shapes resilience, well-being, and success—especially when pressure is high and the path forward is uncertain.

Previously, Michelle served as anchor of The CBS Morning News. She is an executive producer of The Happiness Advantage on PBS and a featured professor in Oprah's Happiness course. Her research has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Forbes, CNN, and Harvard Business Review. She holds a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. in computer engineering from Tufts University.

https://michellegielan.com/resilient-optimism/ http://linkedin.com/in/michellegielan http://facebook.com/michellegielan http://instagram.com/michellegielan

• Broadcasting Happiness by Michelle Gielan
• Resilient Optimism by Michelle Gielan
• The Power of Beliefs by Shawn Achor
• The Holy Bible: New International Version by International Bible Society

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