Resilient Optimism
The Science of Sustaining a Positive Mindset in Tough Times

Praise for the author

“Michelle Gielan is carving out new territory in how positive thinking is literally changing the trajectory of our lives.”

— Oprah

“Michelle Gielan is a gifted storyteller, and she shares powerful science and practical insights for improving the world around us.”

— Adam Grant

We aren’t facing a temporary challenge.
We’re living through an era of sustained uncertainty.

Pressure no longer comes in short bursts. Decisions must be made without complete information. Even the most capable people can find their energy, perspective, and optimism slowly wearing down.

Most people don’t lose optimism because they never had it. They lose it because they don’t know how to sustain it.
That’s what this book is about.
A new book from Harvard Business Review Press, September 2026.
Resilient Optimism

The Science of Sustaining a Positive Mindset in Tough Times

Drawing on more than fifteen years of research, bestselling author and positive psychology researcher Michelle Gielan shows how resilient optimism can be developed through simple, repeatable behaviors. Optimism is not a feeling. It’s a behavior.

Through compelling stories, scientific insight, and practical tools, Michelle reveals how optimism becomes a measurable advantage for navigating challenge, change, and uncertainty.

What You’ll Learn

In Resilient Optimism, you’ll learn how to:

Recalibrate your mindset to counter the brain’s negativity bias
Turn stress into resilience and energy
Triage your commitments so meaningful work doesn’t get crowded out
Recharge smarter for sustained performance
Connect the dots to spread optimism through leadership and communication
Why It Matters
Resilient optimism is not a predetermined trait. It is a trainable skill, accessible to anyone.

Whether you’re navigating organizational upheaval, economic instability, personal setback, or constant change, resilient optimism helps you think more clearly, recover more quickly, and keep moving toward what matters.

Resilient optimism is the greatest performance advantage of our time.

About Michelle

Michelle Gielan is a positive psychology researcher, former national CBS News anchor, and bestselling author whose work explores how resilient optimism shapes leadership, performance, and well-being.

Her research has been featured in Harvard Business Review and has helped organizations around the world build stronger cultures, more resilient leaders, and higher-performing teams.

Ready to build resilient optimism?
Preorder the book today!
We’re living through an era of sustained uncertainty.