Optimism: A Skill to Practice and Cultivate

One of our upcoming lessons for students will focus on optimism. Like many other skills, optimism requires both practice and a foundation of understanding.

At its core, optimism is the mindset that good or positive things are likely to happen in the future—even though challenges or setbacks may occur along the way. It’s about finding the silver lining in a rain cloud or believing that a rainbow often follows the rain.

For children, who tend to think in concrete terms, optimism can sometimes be misunderstood as simply “getting what we want.” But that’s not quite accurate. While achieving desired outcomes can result from being optimistic and proactive—such as putting in effort aligned with goals—true optimism is more about believing that good things can happen, even if they don’t happen every time. It’s the confidence that if we act or behave in certain ways, positive outcomes are possible, while also accepting that setbacks are part of life.

So how do we help children build the skill of optimism?

1. Look for the good in every situation, even if it’s small or seems insignificant.

2. Use positive language—both in self-talk and when speaking with others.

3. Break down goals into smaller steps so that progress can be celebrated along the way.

4. Surround yourself with positive people. Environments matter. The people we spend time with shape our self-concept and influence how we see ourselves and the world.

5. Practice gratitude. Being thankful helps shift focus toward what’s going well.

6. Learn from mistakes. Mistakes are powerful teachers. Sometimes optimism means recognizing that while we didn’t get what we wanted, we may have gained what we needed—like an important life lesson.

7. Visualize success. Imagining a positive outcome is part of goal-setting. It helps us see the path forward and motivates us to take action.

Optimism isn’t always easy, but it’s a skill that can be developed—and it’s well worth the effort. Research shows that cultivating optimism is linked to better long-term outcomes for both physical health and emotional well-being.