What does optimism really look like in work?
- Caroline Esterson
- Jul 29
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 4
Real optimism for people who are tired, talented, and very much still in their PJs.
You know that moment when someone says, “Cheer up; it might never happen!” and your inner voice responds, “It already did, thank you very much.”
Or when your boss adds a Friday 5 pm task and you reply “No worries!” while mentally drafting your resignation letter to become a goat yoga instructor in the Lake District?
This post is for you.
Because burnout doesn’t always look like collapse. Sometimes it looks like people-pleasing, quiet eye rolls, and secretly googling remote jobs in Iceland with WiFi.
What Real Optimism Actually Is
Let’s be clear: I’m not here for toxic positivity. The “just be grateful!” brigade can keep their vision boards and weird smiling-at-your-laptop energy.
Optimism isn’t pretending things are okay. It’s believing that things can be better and choosing to do something about it.
That’s the difference.
Optimism Is a Strategy, Not a Sparkle
Psychologist Martin Seligman calls optimism a learnable skill. It’s not about skipping around with rose-tinted glasses, it’s about where you place your attention, especially when things feel hard.
Optimists don’t ignore the mess. They just don’t stop there.
They ask better questions:
What’s one thing I can control today?
What’s still possible?
What do I want to try next?
Even if the answer is “nap first, rethink everything later” - that counts
.
Above the Line Thinking
Here’s a simple model I shared in the episode:
Draw a line.
Above the line: optimism, ownership, resourcefulness.
Below the line: blame, cynicism, burnout vibes.
You’re allowed to slip below the line, you’re human. The key is to notice it… and climb back up.
One tiny move. One honest shift.
How to Start: The Flamekeeper Prompts
I created a free tool to help you do this: The Flamekeeper Prompt List - 20 bold, honest check-in prompts to help you protect your spark without faking it.
It’s full of things like:
“What thought is dragging me below the line right now?”
“When did I last feel proud — even if no one saw it?”
“What’s draining me, and what can I shift?”
“What would future me thank me for doing today?”
You Don’t Need to Feel Great to Move.
You just need to move with honesty and purpose.
Optimism isn’t hype. It’s motion.
And some days, the most optimistic thing you can do is:
Ask one better question
Say no to one more thing
Or let yourself rest without guilt
Because protecting your spark, that’s not selfish, it’s strategy.