"It's a wonderful thing to be optimistic. It keeps you healthy and it keeps you resilient."

Optimism doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine or ignoring what’s hard. It’s more like carrying a quiet belief that things can improve, that you can find a way through, or at least take the next step. That kind of mindset matters on ordinary difficult days—when work is stressful, plans fall apart, or life feels heavier than expected. Optimism gives your mind and body a little breathing room. Instead of getting stuck in “this will never change,” you’re more likely to rest, ask for help, try again, or notice what’s still good. Kahneman’s point is that optimism isn’t just a nice personality trait. It’s a kind of inner support system that helps us stay steady when life gets messy.