Resilient Optimism: Why What You Do Next Still Matters with Michelle Gielan

Optimism is not pretending everything will be okay. It is believing that what you do next still matters. In Episode 92 of the Her Resources Podcast, host Linda Misegadis speaks with positive psychology researcher, bestselling author, and former CBS Morning News anchor Michelle Gielan about resilient optimism: the practical behaviors that help us stay hopeful, grounded, and effective when life and work get hard. This conversation arrives on a meaningful day: Michelle’s new book, Resilient Optimism: The Science of Sustaining a Positive Mindset in Tough Times, is officially published today, September 22, 2026, by Harvard Business Review Press. Linda and Michelle explore the difference between rational optimism and toxic positivity, why resilience should never become an excuse to tolerate broken systems, how constant busyness can train the brain toward helplessness, why rest is career infrastructure, and how one person can positively influence a workplace culture. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why optimism is a behavior, not simply a personality trait • How negative news affects mood, attention, and problem solving • Why meaningful progress can protect against burnout • How to triage commitments and build a courageous not-to-do list • Why leaders must model real rest, not only approve it • How “positive deviance,” positive gossip, and a power lead can shift a team • A simple “best moments” practice for recalibrating attention Listen or watch, then share this episode with someone who needs the reminder that their next action still matters. Guest Links Resilient Optimism book site and resources: https://resilientoptimism.com/ Book page, Harvard Business Review Press: https://store.hbr.org/product/resilie... Michelle Gielan official website: https://michellegielan.com/ Michelle Gielan on LinkedIn: LinkedIn: michellegielan Michelle Gielan on Substack: https://michellegielan.substack.com/ Connect with Her Resources Website: https://www.herresourcespodcast.com/ Podbean: https://herresourcespodcast.podbean.com/ YouTube: @herresourcespodcast LinkedIn: LinkedIn: her-resources-podcast Instagram: Instagram: herresourcespodcast TikTok: TikTok: her.resources.pod Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... All Her Resources links: https://linktr.ee/hrpodcast Guest and sponsorship inquiries: [email protected] 00:00 Why optimism is not denial 03:12 Meet Michelle Gielan 04:02 What resilient optimism really means 05:43 Rational optimism vs. toxic positivity 07:14 A NICU crisis and why the next action matters 10:39 Optimism as behavior, not personality 13:21 How negative news changes the brain 16:28 Staying informed without training helplessness 18:29 Resilience vs. tolerating broken systems 19:53 How one person can change the room 21:53 What happens when optimists get quiet 25:10 Busyness, burnout, and meaningful progress 26:54 How to triage commitments 29:07 Three questions that reclaim time 29:47 Why saying no is often about identity 33:08 Rest as career infrastructure 38:12 Positive deviance and workplace culture 41:25 Employee influence vs. leadership accountability 42:49 The power lead: changing how meetings begin 46:40 One habit for behaving like an optimist 50:15 What is on Michelle’s not-to-do list 52:27 Why Michelle is optimistic about AI 53:32 Where to find Michelle and the new book 54:29 Final reflections: what you do next still matters