How to Be Awesome at Your Job

1051: Channeling Optimism as a Superpower with Sumit Paul-Choudhury

Apr 21, 2025

Sumit Paul-Choudhury, a former Editor-in-Chief of New Scientist and founder of the creative studio Alternity, dives deep into the science of optimism. He discusses how optimism can boost health, happiness, and success while sharing personal anecdotes of its transformative power after tragedy. Listeners will learn practical strategies to cultivate a long-term optimistic mindset and how to balance optimism with realism in decision-making. His insights are backed by research, making a compelling case for optimism as a superpower in both life and work.

31:57

Episode guests

Sumit Paul-Choudhury

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Optimism fosters long-term advantages by allowing individuals to pursue opportunities aligned with their aspirations, resulting in a buildup of successes.

Training the brain to adopt an optimistic mindset through practices like disputation and visualization can enhance emotional resilience and coping with challenges.

Deep dives

The Benefits of Optimism

Optimism has been linked to a range of positive life outcomes, including longer, healthier, and happier lives. Those who adopt an optimistic perspective tend to pursue opportunities that align with their aspirations, leading to a buildup of successes over time. Even though setbacks are inevitable, an optimistic mindset allows individuals to see potential for growth and positive outcomes, which helps in coping with life's challenges. This accumulation of successful experiences reinforces their overall sense of well-being and motivation.

Intro

2min

The Power of Optimism: A Personal Journey

13min

From Childhood Dreams to Career Realities: An Optimistic Journey

3min

Cultivating Long-Term Optimism

7min

Navigating the Balance Between Optimism and Recklessness

2min

Harnessing the Power of Optimism in Professional Growth

5min

Sumit Paul-Choudhury shares the science behind optimism and why it gives people an advantage in the long term.

— YOU’LL LEARN —

1) The case for optimism

2) How to train your brain to become an optimist

3) How to direct your optimism to where you need it most

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— ABOUT SUMIT —

Sumit Paul-Choudhury writes, thinks, and dreams about science, technology, and the future. A former Editor-in-Chief of New Scientist, he trained as an astrophysicist, has worked as a financial journalist, and, at the London Business School, received a Sloan Fellowship in strategy and leadership. Currently, he devotes most of his time to his creative studio Alternity, which puts the ideas in this book into scientific and artistic practice. He lives and works in London.

• Book: The Bright Side: How Optimists Change the World, and How You Can Be One

• LinkedIn: Sumit Paul-Choudhury

• Website: Alternity.com

— RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW —

• App: Roam Research

• Book: Candide by Voltaire

• Past episode: 992: How to Break Free from Cynicism and Reclaim Hope with Jamil Zaki

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