On Optimism
Building Mountains: On Optimism
A few months ago, while being interviewed on a podcast that has yet to air, I was asked about my optimism for a race I’m headed into. I sounded maybe a little overly optimistic… and I’m sure you’ll think so as well once you hear it. I’m running the Colorado Marathon in a little over two weeks – and while I haven’t run a marathon in six years, I am optimistic that I’ll have success at the race and hit the goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon.
People have noted my positivity in the past – I’m going to reframe that as optimism.
Remaining optimitic preparing to race through COVID at Quad Rock 25
Here’s a little story about me: I struggled academically and socially when I was growing up. I was diagnosed with a learning disability as a freshman in high school - which likely is ADHD-inattentive type (the diagnoses was years before ADD was a diagnosis and the report reads the symptoms to a T). For me to get through school – earn two graduate degrees in Social Work and Applied Sport Psychology, becoming a Certified Mental Performance Consultant, working my dream job at Outward Bound… I’ve had to remain optimistic. Sheesh… It took me over ten years of racing marathons to qualify for Boston, I started out as a 4:50 marathoner and ended up qualifying at 3:15 and change… It’s taken me six tries at Lead Challenge and I keep going after it.
Optimism is a powerful F’ing tool.
Optimism is the belief that challenges can be faced, that things can get better, and that we have the capacity to grow, adapt, or find meaning, even when things are hard. It’s not about ignoring pain or fear, but about holding onto hope while making space for reality. Optimism is key ingredient in building resilience – that and emotional regulation and a supportive environment.
There it is.
It’s about holding on to hope…
Optimism got me to the finish line at the Leadville 100 MTB. And will get me through the cut-offs soon.
Optimism is a belief in possibility. It's your inner voice saying, “Even if it’s hard, I think I can do this or learn from it.”
I’ve got a lot of things on my plate I am scared about – I’m racing Lead Challenge a seventh time and have yet to finish all the races in the same year under the cut-offs. I’m racing this marathon in a couple of weeks, and I am trying to build this private practice. The later probably the hardest of the three.
To say that I haven’t been fearful or a little anxious would be foolish…also a little toxic. I am afraid… But I am also optimistic.
Optimism isn’t the absence of fear; it’s choosing to move with it
Remember that Fear and anxiety are protective signals. It's your brain saying, “Hey, something important is at stake here, let’s do something about it.” Optimism, fear and anxiety can coexist, and in fact, they often do in high-performance moments.
It’s not either/or. It’s both/and.
You can feel fear and still believe in yourself.
You can hold anxiety and take a step toward what matters.
You can be uncertain and hopeful at the same time.
My optimism shined here at the Bighorn 100 in 2022 (photo credit to Mile 90 Photography)
You can distinguish optimism from toxic positivity which is the pressure to only focus on the positive, denying or minimizing real emotions like sadness, fear, anxiety or frustration. It tells people that they shouldn't feel what they feel. It can create shame and disconnection.
No, this isn’t always awesome. It’s messy. It’s scary. It’s terrifying at times. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be optimistic.
The times for a lot of people right now are scary. People feel unsafe. That doesn’t mean we can’t be optimistic. That optimism—that hope will drive personal resilience. Even in the darkest of times Anne Frank remained optimistic, she says, “I am an optimist. I don’t think of the misery, but the beauty that still remains.”
There is beauty out there.
You too can build optimism.
Build hope.
Build strength and resilience.
Reach out to me if you’d like some help. I’m a therapist and mental performance consultant based in Colorado, and I work with athletes that are struggling with anxiety and a feisty inner-critic.