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Resilient Optimism
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22 September 2026

Bestselling author and renowned positive psychology researcher Michelle Gielan reveals how to sustain optimism through stress, uncertainty, and change.
Decades of research show that optimism is one of the most powerful predictors of happiness, performance, and success. But when it evaporates, mental clarity, morale, and health all suffer. Feeling optimistic is easy when life is good. The real challenge is in sustaining it through uncertainty, setbacks, and pressure—when we’re tired, overworked, and searching for a win.
Amid the stresses of AI disruption and an unsteady economy, when workplace engagement is at an all-time low and burnout at an all-time high, resilient optimism has never been more essential.
Optimism is not a feeling. It's a behavior. Drawing on the latest neuroscience and her work with thousands of leaders worldwide, Michelle Gielan reveals the repeatable behaviors that sustain optimism under pressure. You'll learn the five specific behaviors that define resilient optimists:
- Recalibrate your mindset
- Transform your stress response
- Triage your commitments
- Recharge smarter
- Connect the dots
With breakthrough science and stories from people who turned adversity into advantage, you'll understand not only how to sustain your optimism but how to spread it to those who need it as much as you do.
Resilient optimism isn't a predetermined trait—it's a trainable skill, accessible to anyone. Whether you're navigating organizational upheaval, economic instability, or a personal setback, resilient optimism enables you to thrive in tough times.
Advance Praise for Resilient Optimism:
"Michelle Gielan is carving out new territory in how positive thinking is literally changing the trajectory of our lives." — Oprah Winfrey, American talk show host, television producer, and philanthropist
"One of the brightest stars in positive psychology." — Arianna Huffington, cofounder, the Huffington Post; founder and CEO, Thrive Global
"A gifted storyteller." — Adam Grant, bestselling author, Think Again; Saul P. Steinberg Professor of Management, the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
"Michelle Gielan is a defining voice on sustaining optimism and resilience in challenging times. She makes an airtight, science-backed case for why resilient optimists flourish and, most importantly, shows us how to become one, step by step." — Amy Gallo, author, Getting Along
Michelle Gielan is a researcher and keynote speaker on positive psychology. She is the bestselling author of Broadcasting Happiness: The Science of Igniting and Sustaining Positive Change. She was an executive producer of The Happiness Advantage on PBS and a featured professor in Oprah Winfrey's Happiness course. She formerly served as anchor of the CBS Morning News, and her research has received attention from dozens of media outlets, including the Today show, the Washington Post, Forbes, Harvard Business Review, and the New York Times.