Pessimistic thinking is learned; it is not permanent #optimism

Added: 2026-06-03

[00:00:00]I research optimism for 2 years and here's one of the important things I found.

[00:00:07]People often believe that pessimism is just who they are. And the research says maybe not. After going through therapy, people's thinking patterns change and as the thinking patterns change and become more optimistic, their depression gets better.

[00:00:30]And the change lasted.

[00:00:33]Even after 1 year from therapy, many people kept those healthier thinking patterns. And the study found that people who explain bad events as "It's my fault.

[00:00:46]This will never change. Things This affects everything." These people may be more at risk for depression. They have a pessimistic explanatory style. But if these patterns can be learned, it means that they can also be unlearned. And here's one idea that's really important.

[00:01:04]Optimism is not just a personality trait. It is a skill, which means that as any other skill, it can be practiced.