Before you set goals for 2026, ask yourself this one question

When things get uncertain, what’s your default reaction?

Do you look for what’s possible? Or do you focus on what’s wrong?

I’ve been reflecting on this a lot lately. Because I’ve noticed that the people I love being around - and the people who tend to get ahead - share one thing in common.

It’s not that they ignore problems. But they don’t stop there.

Two ways of seeing the same situation

Let me show you what I mean.

An optimist faces a setback and thinks: “This is hard - and I can influence what happens next.” They look for solutions and find the silver lining.

A pessimist faces the same setback and thinks: “This is bad - and it won’t change.” They complain and stay stuck.

Now, this is not the same as toxic positivity. Toxic positivity sounds like: “This isn’t bad - don’t feel that way.” That’s denial - dismissing real problems.

True optimism acknowledges the problem. It just refuses to end the conversation there.

I love being around optimists. And I suspect you do too. After all, emotions are contagious. You want to feel energised after a conversation, not drained.

But here’s what I got curious about: does being an optimist actually affect your career? Or is it just a nice quality to have?

Let’s first understand where it even comes from.

What makes you an optimist or pessimist

I used to think people were just born positive or negative. Like it was part of your personality.

Turns out, it’s more complicated - our brains are wired to do both.

The negative pull: In ancient times, we survived by spotting danger quickly. A rustling bush could mean a predator. So our brains learned to pay extra attention to threats and that kept us alive.

The positive pull: When nothing particularly good or bad is happening, our brains lean slightly positive. This helped our ancestors explore new places and build relationships with others.

So here’s the truth: negative events hit us harder when they happen. But in neutral moments, we naturally drift toward the positive.

What tips the balance one way or the other?

A few things:

Early experiences. If you grew up with unpredictable stress, your brain may be more sensitive to threats.

Genetics. About 25% of the variation between people comes down to how our emotional systems are wired. Some people simply react more strongly to negative or positive events.

Chronic stress. When you feel out of control for too long, your brain gets stuck in threat mode. It starts seeing danger everywhere - even when there isn’t any.

The good news? Wherever you start, you can shift the balance.

Why optimism matters at work

Here’s what happens when you approach work with an optimist’s mindset:

Your brain works better. Less threat response means clearer thinking. You make better decisions under pressure.

You stay resilient. When setbacks happen, you don’t spiral into “I’m doomed.” You recover faster and keep moving.

Your relationships improve. You’re less defensive and listen better. People enjoy working with you.

Think about two people on the same team facing budget cuts.

One says: “This is impossible. We’ll never deliver now.”

The other says: “That’s tough. What can we still do with what we have?”

Same situation. But only one of them is seen as someone who can handle bigger challenges.

Guess which one gets the next opportunity?

How to train yourself to become more optimistic

This isn’t about forcing yourself to be positive. It’s about building new mental habits - small shifts that add up over time.

Here are two that work:

Step 1: Catch your thoughts in the moment

Pay attention when you think in absolutes.

Words like always, never, and everyone are warning signs. They’re rarely true and they make problems feel bigger than they are.

When you notice them, ask one simple question: “Where is the exception?”

You don’t need to find a positive spin. Just one counterexample.

Example:

Old thought: “My manager never responds to my emails. It’s probably a sign I’m not doing well.”

New thought: “No reply usually means they’re busy. I’ll wait for the facts before I assume the worst.”

Another example:

Old thought: “These things always go wrong for me.”

New thought: “This went wrong. But last month’s project went well. Let me focus on what I can control here.”

You’re not pretending problems don’t exist. You’re just seeing them accurately - without the extra story your brain wants to add.

Step 2: Change how you reflect

Optimists regularly see evidence of their own capability and progress. You can train your brain to do the same.

Daily habit:

At the end of each day, ask: “What’s one thing I accomplished today?”

It can be small and that’s fine. The point is to notice it.

Year-end reflection:

This time of year is perfect for a bigger look back. But here’s the key - put on your optimist hat before you start.

Ask yourself:

• What facts (not feelings) show what I accomplished this year?

• Where was something easier than I expected?

• Where did I cope better than I thought I would?

• What did I learn that helps me now?

Then complete this sentence: “Last year is evidence that I can...”

Write it down and keep it somewhere you’ll see it.

Set one stretch goal:

If last year proved what you can handle, then this year you can aim a little higher - before you feel fully ready.

Pick one place where you’ll act earlier, show up more visibly, or take on something you don’t yet know how to do perfectly.

That’s optimism in action. Not ignoring reality, just refusing to let it shrink what’s possible.

The bottom line

Being an optimist doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine.

It means seeing problems clearly - and believing you can influence what happens next.

That small shift changes everything: How you make decisions, handle setbacks, and how people experience working with you.

And it’s a skill you can build.

Start today: Catch one always or never, or find one exception.

Small changes mean big shifts over time.