I often refer to myself as a “psychotic optimist.”

By that I mean I possess a possibly unreasonable belief that things will ultimately work out—even when there is very little evidence supporting my position.

Science has a less dramatic name for this: optimism bias.

Dr. Tali Sharot, a professor of cognitive neuroscience at University College London, describes optimism bias as our tendency to overestimate the likelihood that good things will happen to us and underestimate the likelihood of bad things.

This may sound like faulty mental wiring. But optimism bias may actually be one of the brain’s most useful features.

In one of Sharot’s best-known studies, people estimated their chances of experiencing various negative events. They were then shown the statistical likelihood of those events.

When the information was better than expected, people readily revised their beliefs. When the news was worse, they were far less likely to take it in.

Our brains give favorable information to the penthouse suite while sending unfavorable information down to the basement.

Brain imaging showed that this wasn’t simply people pretending to be positive. Their brains actually processed desirable and undesirable information differently. We appear to be neurologically inclined to protect our hopeful view of the future. The study was published in Nature Neuroscience.

Why might this be useful?

Because optimism changes what we’re willing to attempt.

If I believe my dream is possible, I’m more likely to begin. I’m more likely to risk rejection, make the phone call, write the proposal, go on the date, start the book and remain in the game long enough for something wonderful to happen.

When we call an idea “realistic,” we’re usually judging it by what has already happened. But dreams are about creating what hasn’t happened yet. If the future were limited to evidence from the past, nothing genuinely new would ever be born.

This is why I believe our dreams should be at least slightly delusional.

Not dangerously delusional. I’m not suggesting that you ignore medical advice, invest your life savings in llama-themed cryptocurrency or expect the universe to deliver your soulmate while you remain permanently attached to your sofa.

I’m talking about productive delusion: believing in a possibility before you have enough evidence to justify that belief.

There is always a period when the book isn’t written, the business doesn’t exist, the relationship hasn’t appeared and the miracle has not yet arrived. During this phase, your dream may look ridiculous to everyone but you.

This is where optimism becomes essential.

Of course, optimism needs to be paired with action and good judgment. Ignoring warning signs or believing preparation is unnecessary isn’t optimism—it’s denial.

So here is my formula:

Dream unrealistically.
Plan realistically.
Act consistently.
Adjust when necessary.
And remain gloriously unreasonable about what might still be possible.

Optimism isn’t believing that nothing difficult will ever happen. It’s believing that difficulty will not be the end of your story.

Something wonderful could still happen next.

Is that delusional?

Possibly.

But the best things in my life began with dreams that had absolutely no proof they would come true.

And then they did.

Dream Big!

Arielle