Article Number One - Optimism Bias

I've been thinking about writing a LinkedIn article for a while, and finally, I will publish Article Number One, which is about Optimism Bias.

I know this will reach out to many people (hopefully!), and I wanted to pass along an authentic message without boring you.

So I decided to be myself, take the risk of being vulnerable and open, and just let it flow.

I am an optimistic, sagittarian.?I couldn't imagine my life without a good dose of adventure.?I am blessed to have people who genuinely support me and embark with me on my adventures.

At work, I am thankful for being in a position where I feel productive and challenged.?I'm also grateful for being able to do my job safely from home living in Brazil while we're all facing the challenges of a pandemic world.

You may think that optimism sounds like a beautiful "Hakuna Matata" lifestyle. It is not. We, the Optimists, however, have to be conscious and keep reminding ourselves to pay attention to detail and not fail to seek new information to challenge our rosy views, which could lead to poor decisions.

According to Tali Sharot, a London professor of cognitive neuroscience, 80% of us suffer from Optimism Bias—we overestimate the likelihood of experiencing good events and underestimate the possibility of experiencing adverse events. I can count myself among that 80%.

While positive thinking encourages me to take needed risks and expand my horizons, it also leads me to ignore dangers and sometimes exaggerate my capabilities.

It is a continuous effort to keep balancing my optimism with a dose of "defensive pessimism" in the various aspects of my life as a mother, wife, and professional.

During this exercise, I learned that a positive life is more about what we do than the labels we wear.?Our actions, not perceptions, help us to improve.?Life is complex, and focusing on our progress will motivate us.

I am not ignoring the world's evils, but I accept life's setbacks as challenges to overcome and enjoy the pleasure of doing the work.

Life is fluid; we can always empty and fill the glass again.

Renata Castello

“What day is it?” asked Pooh.

“It’s today,” squeaked Piglet.

“My favorite day,” said Pooh.”

― A.A. Milne