The line between toxic positivity and stubborn optimism

It’s definitely a loaded question these days, but how is everyone?

Between the incoming Trump administration who has vowed to pull the US out of the Paris Climate Accords (again), COP29 being chaired by a former oil executive , and the terrible flooding in Spain - it can certainly feel like we’re losing even more ground for the environment.

And well, that may very well be true.?

See, we write this newsletter largely to share good climate news - to nourish this movement we’re building with creative ways people are organizing The Week, a project very much oriented towards joy - and remind us that our efforts do make a difference.

But these days, it feels tone-deaf to do anything other than acknowledge how many of us may be feeling - fear, anger, and loss. So this month, we wanted to write a bit about making space for grief, finding joy in an uphill battle, and the necessity of hope in our long, shared road to a more sustainable future.

In some ways, this is exactly what The Week is about. Before moving straight to solutions and positivity, we need to take a hard look at the reality of what we’re facing with the climate crisis, what we’ve already lost, and what we still stand to lose.?

In the second episode, we talk about how we got to this point in the first place. We go over the systems and stories that underpin the climate crisis, and how many people and groups are invested in keeping things the way they are. And whether we’re talking about a small-scale, individual resistance to change, or a large-scale attempt from the fossil fuel industry to deny, delay, or derail climate policies , it can take time to nurture change. And along this path, we’re bound to see setbacks.

And we’ll grieve. That’s a perfectly normal and understandable, considering what's at stake.

It’s in moments like this, that I take inspiration from the civil rights movement. Hundreds of thousands of people organized to see the end of Jim Crow in the United States, the result of countless sit-ins, actions, strategic litigation, and mutual aid. And in the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a clear victory. However, their actions didn't make white supremacy just disappear , and black and brown communities still face many forms of discrimination today .??

But that doesn’t mean the civil rights movement failed. Even if we experience a backlash (or several) to progress, that doesn’t erase the good work of those who came before us, or mean that their work was meaningless. In fact, it’s more necessary than ever - since they built the momentum and platform upon which we stand today, to continue taking action for the climate.

So even under an administration that’s terrible for the environment, we can continue to take action, change the systems we exist in, and replace our old stories with sustainable, hopeful ones. But that being said - how should one do this when the chips are down?

Here’s one person we know doing really amazing work on this.

Anne Therese Gennari - The Climate Optimist

For those who don’t have the pleasure of knowing her, let me introduce you to Anne.?

Anne Therese Gennari is a climate activist, TED-speaker, and bestselling author of “ The Climate Optimist Handbook." Just like The Week, her work is shifting the narrative on climate change so folks can act from a place of courage and excitement, instead of fear or shame. I’ve read her book myself, and definitely recommend giving it a try.?

Since we’re so aligned on the change we want to be making in the world, we’ve actually partnered with Anne this year to encourage others to organize The Week. It led to several people organizing their own screening, and so did Anne! A few weeks ago, she brought together 15+ people in her local movie theater in Massachusetts, and the films left a real impression on everyone involved. Many said they loved the experience, and now want to get even more people taking action for the climate!

The Week is one tool of many that can bring folks from climate anxiety or doom to joyful action taking - and recently, Anne has also developed something we’d like to share. It’s called The Climate Optimist Course.

She made this course to help folks concerned with the climate to spark optimism, creativity, and solutions-thinking, while keeping a fact-based approach to climate action. Anne does this over the course of five sessions, where you’ll cover how to overcome mental barriers to change, build emotional resilience in the face of the climate crisis, create and nurture (radical) optimism, and turn climate-induced distress on its head.

The Climate Optimist Course is not about giving the simple steps of what to do, but about activating the transformation that will allow you to show up and keep showing up for years to come. It’s about the person taking the course, and activating them to be a strong, resilient, and powerful leader to be reckoned with.

Click here to get involved in the upcoming cohort!

The strategic necessity of hope?

In times like these, one has to ask the question: what is the distinction between toxic positivity and stubborn optimism?

For folks who don’t know - toxic positivity is the pressure to stay upbeat or hopeful, no matter how dire your circumstances may be. This can be felt internally or expressed socially, but generally, the idea is that negative emotions should be avoided at all costs.?

So as a broader, diverse group that experiences setbacks and losses, how do we make space for powerful, valid feelings that emerge, while also embracing the potential and energy derived from joy? Our answer is stubborn optimism.?

To us - that means telling the truth when we’re hurting, listening to others and acknowledging these very valid feelings, but never giving up on the long fight. That it is possible to build a brighter, more sustainable world, and that joy can be found on the path to building it.

Thanks for taking the time through this slightly heavier, but hopefully inspiring, read. Talk to y'all next month!

John Hasan?