Thank you for disentangling optimism from toxic positivity. The distinction between acknowledging low capacity and pretending everything is fine felt especially grounding. I love how you normalize saying, “I’m running on empty,” and making that part of the model for kids.
What your piece stirred in me is this: optimism might not just be about believing things will get better, but about believing we can participate in that betterment. There’s a subtle shift from passive hope to active engagement. When children see us both accept reality and move toward change—even in small ways—they’re learning not just resilience but authorship. That feels powerful. Perhaps optimism is less about prediction and more about posture—how we stand in the face of uncertainty.
Deepika Chopra is not related to or the same age or gender as Deepak Chopra. If you’d like to learn more about her work, please read the article and check out the link to her work.
Deepika Chopra is not related to or the same age or gender as Deepak Chopra. If you’d like to learn more about her work, please read the article and check out the link to her work.
Thank you for disentangling optimism from toxic positivity. The distinction between acknowledging low capacity and pretending everything is fine felt especially grounding. I love how you normalize saying, “I’m running on empty,” and making that part of the model for kids.
What your piece stirred in me is this: optimism might not just be about believing things will get better, but about believing we can participate in that betterment. There’s a subtle shift from passive hope to active engagement. When children see us both accept reality and move toward change—even in small ways—they’re learning not just resilience but authorship. That feels powerful. Perhaps optimism is less about prediction and more about posture—how we stand in the face of uncertainty.
This hit close to home. I’m realising how often my kids are watching not what I say, but how I handle the hard stuff.
The reminder that feelings are temporary, and that capacity matters.
It feels like something I need just as much as they do.
Grateful for this perspective!.
These insights are very close to what I've found in my own work over the past twenty years. The focus on optimism is an interesting twist.
We especially align in knowing where you are to alleviate negativity.
I may have needed out and made a diagram on that if interested in discussing one anothers work some time.
I was surprised to see you were interviewing someone who was so closely affiliated with Epstein??
Deepika Chopra is not related to or the same age or gender as Deepak Chopra. If you’d like to learn more about her work, please read the article and check out the link to her work.
Thank you! I appreciate you taking the time to make this clarification.
Great article!! Does anyone have an example of a daily affirmation for children?
We use this at our home,
I am kind. I am brave. I am learning every day.
It’s okay to make mistakes, that’s how I grow!.
I can try again. I can ask for help.
I am loved, just as I am.
Hope it helps
Deepika Chopra is not related to or the same age or gender as Deepak Chopra. If you’d like to learn more about her work, please read the article and check out the link to her work.
Thank you for that correction. I’ll remove my comment.