Part 3/9:
Bina Venkataraman, author of The Optimist’s Telescope and editorial page editor of the Boston Globe, offers a nuanced perspective on optimism. She clarifies that optimism isn’t about passively hoping for the best but involves actively imagining the future one desires and making deliberate choices to realize that vision. This mindset encourages us to see opportunities rather than just obstacles, empowering societal change and innovation. Yet, she emphasizes that optimism requires resilience because societal forces often favor short-term thinking, making it difficult to focus on long-term goals.