Nate’s Notes 279: Michelle Gielan, Positive Psychology Researcher, Bestselling Author, & Former CBS News Anchor | Optimism Isn’t a Feeling. It’s a Behavior

I loved Michelle’s distinction between optimism as a feeling and optimism that drives behavior.

Optimism doesn’t mean ignoring the bad news, minimizing a problem, or convincing ourselves that cars won’t hit us because we’re optimists.

When Michelle was in the hospital with her newborn in the NICU, she focused on the next meaningful, constructive action she could take.

Optimism is connected to countless positive outcomes, when our optimism leads us to take action. It’s not just wishful thinking. Our behaviors matter. And an optimistic mindset can change our behaviors, which can change what happens to us next.

It’s a simple idea. Please take it seriously.

Michelle Gielan Bio:

Michelle Gielan is a positive psychology researcher, bestselling author, and former national CBS News anchor who examines how optimism shapes performance and well-being. She is the author of Broadcasting Happiness and Resilient Optimism: The Science of Sustaining a Positive Mindset in Tough Times. She was an executive producer of The Happiness Advantage on PBS and a featured professor in Oprah’s Happiness course. Michelle holds a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from Tufts University. Her research and ideas have been featured by The New York Times, The Washington Post, Forbes, Harvard Business Review, and the Today show.