Have you ever told someone, “I’m not an optimist, I’m a realist” because the whole “good vibes only” thing seems irritating, and you don’t want to set yourself up for disappointment?

A lot of us brace for the worst on purpose. We think if we expect the worst, we’ll either be right or pleasantly surprised. But bracing for disaster can be bad for you health.

My guest today is Dr. Deepika Chopra — a clinical health psychologist known as The Optimism Doctor® and the author of The Power of Real Optimism.

Some of the things we discuss are:

• What real optimism actually looks like in the middle of Grief, Stress, or a bad diagnosis
• The difference between real optimism and toxic positivity — and why “just think positive” can make people feel worse
• The question that opens the door to a different outcome without forcing you to fake a feeling
• The surprising physical health benefits of optimism
• Why optimism is a learnable skill
• The a one-minute end-of-day practice that rewires your brain to become more optimistic
• Why awe is even more powerful than gratitude for shrinking Anxiety
• My top three strategies for becoming a real optimist starting today

Related Episodes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• 259 – Feel Hopeless? 5 Habits That Bring Hope Back Fast with Dr. Julia Garcia
• 306 — You Don’t Need to Feel Strong to Be Strong

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The Power of Real Optimism

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Amy Morin Therapist, Bestselling Author, Host of the Mentally Stronger Podcast

Amy Morin is a psychotherapist, international bestselling author and the host of the Mentally Stronger podcast. Her books on mental strength, including 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do, have sold more than 1 million copies and been translated into more than 40 languages.

She’s practiced therapy for over 20 years and she’s a sought after speaker whose TEDx talk, The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong, has become one of the most popular talks of all time with more than 22 million views.

Amy lives on a sailboat in the Florida Keys.