Hope is the key to resilience

“Optimism and hope are entirely different from simply wishing for something,” says the Süddeutsche Zeitung. “It’s a way of thinking. This means hope can also be cultivated.”

According to Dan Tomasulo, a psychology professor at Columbia University, hopeful people set clear, actionable goals and work towards achieving them. They focus on the “here and now” by taking manageable steps (micro-goals) to make progress. These small successes help build positive momentum and create an upward spiral of action and achievement.

Optimism often arises in difficult situations and is strengthened by focusing on what is within one’s control. This also includes forgiving oneself and not tying one’s self-worth to whether something was achieved or not. Optimistic individuals don’t let their emotional reactions be dictated by circumstances.

When something negative happens, Tomasulo suggests we should first “hit pause.” Pausing allows us to perceive the situation more consciously. The next step: evaluate the situation and ask yourself what needs to be done – and what resources, skills, and motivation you have available.

This means: optimism is not just a positive attitude. Optimistic people are also creative problem-solvers.

“Resilience doesn’t mean preventing crises and setbacks but dealing with them constructively,” says top management coach Prof. Heidi Stopper in a conversation with Stefanie Hornung for herCAREER. In the herCAREER podcast, she shares numerous tips on this topic – it’s worth listening in!