1. Success isn’t just about intelligence

In our Western society, we often associate success with intelligence or a strong academic background. Many people also believe that a high level of education is necessary to be successful. And to some extent, that is true. For example, if you want to become a doctor, you first have to pass an entrance exam and then go through a long and challenging period of study.

While I was studying, I found it challenging to take in so much information in such a short time. In the end, it was my determination and motivation that helped me push through. At the same time, there are plenty of examples of people who’ve achieved great success without following such demanding academic routes—or who made bold career shifts later on and thrived.

So, studying and intelligence aren’t the only ingredients for success. I won’t go into the specific challenges or drivers of success here.

What I mainly want to highlight is one key aspect that can be crucial when pursuing your goals: having a growth mindset and a certain degree of optimism. What exactly do I mean by that?

2. A growth-based mindset

A growth mindset assumes that your intelligence and personality can be further developed. Intelligence can be understood in a broad sense: to me, creative expression or physical ability are just as much forms of intelligence. Everyone has a talent—or the potential to develop one—and it can emerge in a wide range of areas. Carol Dweck describes this kind of mindset as one that doesn’t assume you have to live with the traits you’ve been given, but rather sees those traits as a starting point for growth and development.

A person’s true potential is difficult to define. It depends on many factors, such as your starting point, your enthusiasm, effort, environment, and circumstances …

It also depends on how you view a situation. Suppose someone gives non-constructive feedback on a drawing you made: ‘I don’t really like it. The sky and the landscape look kind of weird.’ How do you respond? Do you feel sad and start to think you’re a bad artist? Or can you put it into perspective: ‘We just have different tastes. She doesn’t really understand the techniques I used, and I’m actually happy with what I created.’

The way we look at a situation—and how we evaluate ourselves and those around us—plays a crucial role in our growth and in the progress we make toward the goals we set for ourselves.

3. Optimistic vs. pessimistic thinking

Martin Seligman conducted extensive research on how having an optimistic outlook versus a pessimistic one affects our emotions, our success at work, as parents, in school, in sports, our health, and our cultural beliefs. In our explanations to ourselves, three elements are crucial:

• Permanence

‘You never call me’ (implies permanence) vs. ‘You haven’t called me lately’ (implies change is possible)

• Specificity vs. generality

‘Women are bad drivers’ (universal generalization) vs.
‘My wife struggled to park in that tight space’ (specific event)

• Internal vs. external attribution

‘I’m a bad artist’ (self-critical) vs. ‘That girl didn’t like my drawing’ (external critique)’

If your belief attributes negativity as permanent, universal, and self-blaming, you have a pessimistic outlook. These people give up more easily, feel little hope, and display low self-esteem. They see little space for growth or change.

Seligman studied situations in which people and animals feel helpless after loss, failure, or defeat—when they stop believing they can change things. We all experience those lows now and then. But how you think about your problems influences whether it leads to depression or not. Ruminating worsens your mood, while believing things are temporary and surmountable builds resilience. Pessimism isn’t the only cause of depression—genetics, chronic stress, trauma, loss, grief, hormonal changes, illness, substance use, and more also play roles—but negative thinking and low self-image are important contributors.

4. Shifting between hope and realism

Though we may lean more toward optimism or pessimism overall, life events and our mental state can shift our outlook. Seligman found that pessimists often assess situations more realistically, while optimists sometimes slightly distort reality in a direction that helps them succeed. Most people lie somewhere between the extremes.

As a scientist, I tend to assess things realistically and describe them precisely. If someone says I sing well (and I mix fake and real examples in my illustrations), I appreciate it—but I won’t think I’m a star singer. If a day goes badly, I don’t think it’s the worst day ever—I just had an off day, and tomorrow is new.

We need both realism (when stakes are high) and optimism (when planning big things). Ideally, we can flexibly switch between the two depending on the situation.

5. The role of upbringing and negative experiences

Seligman identified three influencing factors on children’s mindset development:

• How parents talk about everyday situations—especially mothers. Optimistic interpretations from parents tend to be adopted by children.
• Feedback after failure—criticism that’s seen as permanent and attributed to the child’s character fosters pessimism and low self-esteem.
• Early trauma or loss—if children heal and find constructive solutions, they learn that negative events can be overcome. But if they experience negative permanence and universality, they may develop hopelessness.

These are trends, not certainties.

But children exposed to more negative events can spiral into pessimism, which often carries into adulthood.

I’m particularly intrigued by how we can bounce back from adversity, and how to break these negative spirals in both children and adults.

6. How to turn pessimism into optimism?

Below is an overview of cognitive therapy techniques—I’ll share more on resilience-building later:

6.1 Be aware of your thoughts and feelings

Awareness is the first step. Recognizing that thoughts and emotions are not fixed empowers change.

Example: A teacher having a rough day thinks, ‘I’m a bad teacher.’

6.2 Reality-check your thoughts

Ask: Are these thoughts true? Is there another perspective?

She lists supportive evidence: ‘I’ve successfully taught before, students ask me for help, colleagues appreciate me.’

6.3 Reframe negative thoughts

Replace self-criticism with balanced, constructive alternatives:

‘I was tired and had a tough day—everyone does sometimes. That doesn’t make me a bad teacher.’

6.4 Strengthen new thoughts

Consciously observe successes, make new agreements (e.g., class routines).

Ask for feedback to reinforce the new mindset.

6.5 Catch negative thoughts early

Rumination worsens things. Practice noticing negative thoughts quickly and limiting their impact.

By becoming more aware and challenging old patterns—and forming new positive habits—you rebuild confidence in your capabilities.

7. Conclusion

How we interpret situations and evaluate ourselves significantly shapes our ability to reach goals. An optimistic mindset sees setbacks as temporary and manageable—fostering persistence and self-confidence. A pessimistic approach often leads to giving up early, self-doubt, and low self-worth.

To shift from pessimism to optimism, start by becoming aware of your thought patterns. Then, question them and consciously replace them with realistic, constructive alternatives. Over time, these new thought habits help restore resilience and belief in your own potential.

8. References

• Dweck C.S. 2011. Mindset. Verander je manier van denken om je doelen te behalen.
• Martin E.P. Seligman 2006. Learned optimism. How to change your mind and your life.