1. Practical
   1. Concerned with the actual use or doing of something as opposed to theories or ideas.
   2. Likely to succeed in real circumstances; feasible
2. Optimism
   1. Confidence about the future or the outcome of the future
   2. The belief that your current situation is the best it could be, right now.
3. Practical Optimism
   1. An action based, realistic approach to exploring your life in a positive light or while pursuing positive outcomes.
   2. A belief system that an increase in positive thoughts and actions will lead to an increase in success where directed. This could result in success for an individual or group.

This website focuses on three categories: career, parenting, and life lessons. I chose the title “Practice Optimism” as a reminder to take action. “Practical Optimism” refers to a definition, shown above, and will hopefully give you an idea about what you want to accomplish and how positivity can take you there.

Practical optimism is not a phrase I invented, but an attitude I adopted at a young age. I am not an expert on how people think, but I was raised by a psychiatrist. I was not a straight A student, but I was raised by a teacher. The professions my parents chose exposed me to a lot about how people think, act, and perform. Anytime I dealt with a difficult conversation, I could lean on the expertise of a psychiatrist. Anytime I wanted constructive criticism about my writing or critical thinking, I signed up for a dinner-time consult with a History/English teacher. I learned pretty quickly that taking a positive approach to life, would serve me well if I wanted to accomplish my goals.

I don’t think I can take much credit for my early access to practical optimism. Even before I knew there was a formal phrase to describe my childhood mindset, I learned some of its practices.

In 2009, Dr. David Kerr, a professor of clinical psychology at Oregon State University, conducted a study and wrote an article called, “Positive Parenting Can Have Lasting Impact for Generations.” According to Dr. Kerr and his team of researchers, children exceled socially, academically, and personally when they had parents who incorporated a combination of rule following and affection into their relationship.

The study surveyed 206 boys and tracked their growth and family dynamics from the age of 9 to 33. When discussing the correlation between childhood experiences and future parenting strategies, Kerr went on to say, “We knew that these negative pathways can be very strong. What surprised us is how strong positive parenting pathways are as well. Positive parenting is not just the absence of negative influences, but involves taking an active role in a child’s life.”

“I am not an expert on how people think, but I was raised by a psychiatrist. I was not a straight A student, but I was raised by a teacher.”

Just because we are exposed to things as children, does not mean we fully understand them. It does mean that we work through different questions and scenarios that are generated by our surroundings. Our parents and/or guardians can set us up for success in that way.

Psychological studies often focus on the negative outcomes or problem-solving areas that arise in the interactions we see between people, namely families. There are certainly health risks, economic risks, and family conflicts that develop and it’s important to work towards solutions. But it’s also important to look at the benefits that come from human thought and action individually and between one another. Hence my appreciation for and exploration of practical optimism.

Looking to the future.

There is nothing, no thing, more valuable than having a tomorrow. Practical optimism is more than avoiding disaster and more than an appreciation for avoiding it. It is learning how to work through it.

I often discuss the parallels between what we do and what it means in our life. It’s one of the reasons I like to compare lessons we learn in our jobs, the sports we play, and other experiences we have, but let’s look at a different example. A future with practical optimism is only possible through strengthening our core values accompanied by the adoption of new ideas. Ideas come in many shapes and sizes and from many people and places. As we transition from one stage to the next, the importance of forming our own belief systems increases exponentially.

What are your core virtues? Do you think about how you want to live your life and then act accordingly? Dive deep, think beyond the influence of the people in your life. Draw on your upbringing but make sure you also reflect on your independent experiences. Who are you planning to become moving forward? Sometimes the future should look like the past.

There is nothing, no thing, more valuable than having a tomorrow.