Why hope may matter more than happiness, according to new research
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM At The Optimist Daily, we believe that good news isn't just nice to hear. Hope is essential for building a brighter world. That’s why this new research out of the University of Missouri struck a hopeful chord: it suggests that one simple emotion may shape Read More...
How to actually feel more positive (without faking it)
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The Optimist Daily team knows better than anyone: between the pressure to “stay positive” and the pull of doomscrolling, finding a realistic middle ground can sometimes feel impossible. We all know that relentless cheeriness isn’t the answer. Neither is Read More...
How collective healing helps us thrive in uncertain times
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a world that often feels fragmented by political division, economic instability, and ongoing social challenges, healing can feel like a solitary pursuit. But the truth is, many of our wounds are not individual—they are collective. So, what happens when Read More...
How to overcome the fear of being left out and build stronger connections
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM We’ve all been there. You open your phone, casually scroll through social media, and suddenly—there it is. A photo, a video, or a post showing your friends at an event you weren’t invited to. Your heart sinks, and a flood of emotions rushes in: Read More...
How to shake off a stranger's bad vibes
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM It happens to the best of us: you're out in the world, going about your business, and a stranger's rudeness rattles you. Whether it's a stinging remark about your outfit, an aggressive driver cutting you off, or someone coming at you dramatically Read More...
Podcast transcript November 15, 2024: Indigenous Voices at COP16 and Intellectual Humility
Episode description This week's positive news: Karissa opens the podcast with wonderful news from this year’s COP16 UN Biodiversity Summit. Then, Arielle dives into why practicing intellectual humility can help us face our own biases, open up to different perspectives, and enrich our Read More...
Resilient community-building: staying safe in times of uncertainty
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY TEAM Recent global and domestic developments have left many feminists and allies feeling uneasy, uncertain about their place in society, and even alone. Despite this turmoil, the need for community remains strong. Connection is vital not only for personal well-being, but Read More...
Transforming climate anxiety into positive action
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Imagine dedicating your studies to the natural beauty of coral reefs, only to witness their rapid decline firsthand. That is precisely what occurred to Jada Alexander, a student at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The vivid life of the coral reefs Read More...
Sesame Workshop introduces tools to help kids understand addiction in families
Tevis Simon's childhood was fraught with uncertainty. She grew up in West Baltimore in the 1980s, a community that received little attention from the city and government investment, and her existence was overshadowed by her mother's opioid addiction. She never knew which version of her mother she Read More...
5 ways rudeness is actually beneficial
No one likes to experience rudeness, so you’d be forgiven for thinking that it is both insidious and a wholly negative experience. Surprisingly, though, a study into the experience of rudeness within a mental health context found that it can also be viewed positively, or at least, used in a Read More...