Hi, this is Monique Rhodes. Welcome to the In Your Right Mind Podcast, Here, we learn how to be happier by working with our minds.
If you'd like to know more about what I teach, come to iintendtobehappy.com and let's help you get started on a path to happiness.
There's no question right now that things are quite difficult in the world, and a lot of people are asking me how to handle that, how they can be hopeful at a time when there are so many challenges. I think it’s important to understand that we can be realistic and hopeful at the same time. The most powerful kind of optimism isn’t naive. That optimism is really rooted in action.
We have to understand a simple truth: every challenge, every unexpected twist in our lives, and every moment (even the ones we’d rather avoid) can help us grow. We all carry with us a wellspring of resilience, empathy, and untapped strength. In a world like this, the path forward isn’t about denying difficulties, but about discovering our own capacity to respond with courage and compassion.
Life is unpredictable. We don’t even know what’s going to happen 20 seconds from now. In our lives, we’re going to face loss, setbacks, illnesses, and heartbreaks. There’s not a single person who is exempt from this. But if we dwell on what could go wrong, it blinds us to what we can do.
When we look at realistic optimism, we say to ourselves, “This is hard. I may feel unprepared for this, but I know I can learn, adapt, and face this with integrity.” It’s not about lying to ourselves or tricking ourselves. It’s about choosing to acknowledge our ability to grow, even when things are falling apart.
Every difficult moment asks us a question: what are you going to do now? A flash of pain might feel like just pain, but later we often see that a challenge can be a turning point. It can be a place where we learn patience, generosity, or self-respect. That’s the fuel of realistic optimism. We don’t pretend that things aren’t happening.
I have a friend who just came to me with a cancer diagnosis. She starts chemotherapy today. She’s in the midst of a storm. We don’t pretend that the storm isn’t happening. But if we’re realistically optimistic, we can look at the storm she’s going through and see, probably in hindsight, how that storm will teach her to build back better. That’s the truth because it creates wisdom in us. Wisdom helps us grow not because we’re born with it, but because we can learn it.
Each time we show up when it would be easier to turn away, offer help instead of judgment, or pause instead of reacting, we’re using a tool that strengthens us and others too. I often teach my students to practice kindness, but you can also practice resilience, presence, and integrity. These are practical qualities you can practice every single day.
The beautiful thing is that when you step into your own strength during these storms, you begin to see that strength in other people too. That’s what realistic optimism nurtures in us. It’s not the idea that everything’s going to turn out perfectly, but the confidence that more of us can awaken deeper courage and care.
Every act of growth, no matter how small, ripples outward. It changes how we relate to people, how we define success, and how we hold on to hope. Realistic optimism offers us clarity because you’re not wandering around in denial. You’re choosing where you want to build, heal, and grow.
It gives you freedom because you’re not chained to worst-case scenarios. You’re able to empower yourself and free to act with purpose, even in uncertainty. It also creates connection because your growth becomes an invitation for others to grow. From quiet acts of care to becoming a profound leader, you allow other people to grow with you, and those connections become deeper and bigger.
As you cultivate resilience and compassion, you start to become a leader because you become someone other people can lean on. I think that’s the truest measure of impact in these times. It’s not about perfection, but about being present and engaged in the messy work of evolution.
Realistic optimism doesn’t guarantee sunshine every morning. It doesn’t promise ease, but it does offer a real place of trust in your own potential and in the power of all of us to keep waking up. Remember that when hard things happen, those moments can be medicine for the soul if you’re open to learning and moving forward.
You’re more capable than you think. You’re more generous than you realize. The world needs your light, your willingness to show up, your resilience, your clarity, and your readiness to become a source of healing. That’s the deepest optimism there is.
I hope this has been helpful. As always, be kind. Take care. Go gently in the world.
