Trading Toxic Positivity for Mental Optimism: Dr. Deepika Chopra on What Actually Fosters Wellbeing

What does it really mean to be optimistic?

In this Flow Space edition of The Big Silence, Karena Dawn sits down with Dr. Deepika Chopra, known as the “Optimism Doctor”, live from the Women’s Health Summit in LA. Drawing from her background in psychology, neuroscience, and lived experience, Dr. Chopra debunks the myth that optimism is about “being positive.” Instead, she offers science-backed tools to build mental resilience, process worry, and shift your brain toward the future you want to create. From dancing first thing in the morning to scheduling daily “worry time,” this episode is packed with small, powerful rituals to help you feel more joy, no matter where your mind is now.

Could resilience be the true foundation of optimism? 

Dr. Chopra shares why optimism isn’t a constant state of happiness; it’s a mindset that acknowledges life’s challenges while staying open to growth, healing, and future possibility.

(00:02:00) Reframing Optimism: It’s Not About Being Positive All the Time

• Dr. Chopra defines real optimism as rooted in resiliency and curiosity, not blind positivity.
• Being an optimist means recognizing life’s setbacks, but seeing them as temporary and surmountable.
• She shares that optimism is a learnable skill, not just a personality trait.
• The science shows optimists live longer, thrive more, and have deeper connections.

(00:07:30) From Emo Journaling to Neuroscience: Her Unexpected Path to Optimism

• Deepika’s childhood emotional diaries foreshadowed her fascination with human behavior.
• Learning that the brain thinks in the future tense.
• Helping people anticipate good things and how to train your brain to do it.
• Research shows only about 25% of optimism is genetic—the rest is learned.

(00:09:40) Awe, Music, and Movement: Tools to Interrupt Anxiety

• Spending just two hours a week in nature significantly lowers stress and improves clarity.
• She starts every morning with her “wake-up and dance” routine to set a positive tone.
• Feelings of awe: How art, nature, and nostalgia help reset the brain and reduce anxiety.
• Happiness hack: Holding onto a positive thought for at least 12 seconds helps the brain create more of them.

(00:12:30) Feel It to Heal It: Why Optimism Starts With Honesty

• True optimism requires sitting with hard emotions, not bypassing them.
• Dr. Chopra explains the power of curiosity when you can’t access joy.
• Being neutral or open, even when in pain, is still progress.
• Staying present and inquisitive with where you are in the moment

(00:13:55) Schedule Your Worry: How Boundaries Can Free Your Mind

• Dr. Chopra shares her practice of “worry time”—a scheduled slot to process anxious thoughts.
• Throughout the day, she defers worries to that time, writing them down or mentally shelving them.
• Setting a clear boundary gives worries space without you being consumed by them.
• Surprisingly, the best solutions often arise when you’re feeling joy or calm.

(00:16:45) End Your Day With a To-DA! List (Not a To-Do List)

• Instead of an anxiety triggering nighttime to-do list, write down daily accomplishments.
• Even small wins count. Celebrating them boosts a sense of empowerment and self-worth.
• Gratitude can lose impact over time; the To-DA list keeps things specific and fresh.
• She emphasizes the power of feeling accomplished before bed.

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Guest Resources

• Explore her website