What if optimism wasn’t just a mindset but a daily act of strength and self-belief?

In this episode, psychiatrist and author Dr. Sue Varma unpacks the science and soul of practical optimism, a philosophy that blends positivity with action, helping us move from wishful thinking to real change. Drawing from her work with 9/11 survivors, her personal story of burnout, and decades in mental health, Dr. Varma reveals how optimism isn’t about ignoring pain, it’s about believing in the possibility of good while doing the work to make it happen.

We explore why our brains are wired toward negativity, how to reframe pessimistic thoughts into growth, and what neuroscience says about the left and right sides of our emotional lives. Dr. Varma breaks down her eight pillars of practical optimism, from finding purpose and processing emotions to building self-compassion and practicing healthy habits and offers four daily anchors anyone can start today: movement, mindfulness, mastery, and meaningful connection.

Discover how to turn hope into action and make optimism your superpower.

📌 What You Will Learn

• How to Practice Practical Optimism

• The Real Difference Between Optimism and Practical Optimism

• How to Reframe Negative Thinking

• How to Process Difficult Emotions

• The Four P’s That Keep You Stuck in Pessimism

• The Daily Habits That Boost Mental Health

• How to Strengthen Emotional Resilience

  
  

⏱ Timestamps

00:31 Creating a one-stop approach to prevention and treatment

01:20 Learning from working with 9/11 survivors

04:16 Understanding the difference between optimism and pessimism

07:55 Recognizing the downside of too much optimism

13:49 How the brain of an optimist works

17:14 Knowing when pessimism becomes something more

20:28 Discovering mindfulness-based stress reduction

26:21 Exploring the eight pillars of practical optimism

28:46 Finding joy in what you do

32:58 Redefining purpose beyond grand goals

37:02 Accepting that comparison is inevitable

41:19 Using the four-step plan to process emotions

46:31 Reframing your emotional state

52:02 Practicing the four Ms of mental health

59:37 Seeing the risks of overrelying on AI

01:02:57 Using AI for early mental health intervention

01:06:18 Reconnecting with ancient wisdom

01:11:01 Nurturing yourself and focusing on growth

🎙 Hosted by Julian Issa

📸 Instagram: @thebeyondtomorrowpodcast

🌐 Website: www.beyondtomorrowpodcast.com

📩 Email: [email protected] 🎧

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube for more stories from the edge of what is possible.

Episode Resources:

Website: https://www.doctorsuevarma.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-varma-m-d-p-c-dfapa-8a48286/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctorsuevarma/# 

X: https://x.com/doctorsuevarma 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Doctorsuevarma/ 

Practical Optimism: The Art, Science, and Practice of Exceptional Well-Being