
Practical Optimism
The Art, Science, and Practice of Exceptional Well-Being
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Narrated by:
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Sue Varma M.D.
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By:
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Sue Varma MD
About this listen
A practical program rooted in optimism to help you live fully and joyfully in an imperfect, turbulent world
As the first medical director and attending psychiatrist at the World Trade Center Mental Health Program, Dr. Sue Varma worked directly with civilian and first-responder survivors in the aftermath of 9/11. There, she met people at every point of the stress and trauma continuum. She saw devastation and stagnancy as much as she saw amazing resilience and growth. She asked herself: how do some people survive, even thrive, despite profound challenges? And how can we optimize the things we have control over, while buffering ourselves from stress?
Through her work with patients and combining philosophy, her own personal experience, and a review of the latest research in psychology, psychiatry, medicine, and neuroscience, Dr. Varma discovered that the answer lies in cultivating an optimistic mindset that stays tethered to the real world and helps us make sound and reasonable decisions. This epiphany inspired Practical Optimism, Dr. Varma’s powerful program with eight pillars to help all of us experience a sense of meaning, mastery, and self-acceptance and create lives filled with joy and purpose. Optimists, research has shown, are not just happier and more successful, but physically healthier. And if you’re a natural-born pessimist? No problem: the most vital piece of the Practical Optimism program is that it is a practice, a skillset that we can choose to adopt and get better at every day.
This book isn’t about magical thinking. Practical optimists are resourceful, realistic, and thoughtful problem solvers who possess something of rare value: the inner resources to cope during a crisis and to use as fuel to flourish. Complete with self-assessment quizzes and exercises, Practical Optimism will help us all see the world for the better and reach our true potential. Practical Optimism is a scientific and tangible pathway to boosting health, happiness, resilience, success, and longevity.
©2024 Sue Varma (P)2024 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
A Next Big Idea Club Must-Read Book for February 2024
"In Practical Optimism Dr. Varma distills an expansive body of research into clear, relatable, and actionable guidance. This book is a must read for anyone who wants to move from surviving to thriving."—Lisa Damour, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of Untangled, Under Pressure, and The Emotional Lives of Teenagers
“Essential reading, and full of tools to help us move through challenges and embrace the possibility around us. Dr. Sue Varma shows us that practical optimism is a muscle we can build and continue to strengthen—and it can absolutely transform our lives.”—Judson Brewer, MD, New York Times bestselling author of Unwinding Anxiety
"Practical Optimism beautifully weaves science and art, research and storytelling, theory and practice. Sue Varma provides us with a compass that can help us navigate our complex and demanding reality."—Tal Ben Shahar, New York Times bestselling author of Happier
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Conventional interviewing advice doesn’t work. That’s what Anna Papalia learned through years of experience as an HR professional, consultant for Fortune 500 companies, and teacher at the Fox School of Business. None of the existing tools work for one simple reason: they don’t get to the heart of what actually makes a great interview—self-awareness. At its core, an interview is a set of questions about you. If you don’t know yourself, you won’t do well.
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Helpful information
- By ppbcup on 02-18-25
By: Anna Papalia
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The Sugar Jar
- Create Boundaries, Embrace Self-Healing, and Enjoy the Sweet Things in Life
- By: Yasmine Cheyenne
- Narrated by: Yasmine Cheyenne
- Length: 6 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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The Sugar Jar metaphor is a powerful teaching tool that wellness advocate and coach Yasmine Cheyenne has successfully used with her clients. Now, in her debut book, she makes it available to everyone. Combining stories, exercises, and prompts, The Sugar Jar lets you see just how much energy you have and how much is being used by others. It helps you identify what depletes you, what restores you, and how to recognize destructive patterns. It empowers you to free yourself from performing for and serving others, teaching you to set boundaries to help you heal and recharge.
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Give Yourself Grace
- By ToNora on 01-05-25
By: Yasmine Cheyenne
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Life in Three Dimensions
- How Curiosity, Exploration, and Experience Make a Fuller, Better Life
- By: Shigehiro Oishi PhD
- Narrated by: Brian Nishii
- Length: 7 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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For many people, a good life is a stable life, a comfortable life that follows a well-trodden path. This is the case for Shigehiro Oishi's father, who has lived in a small mountain town in Japan for his entire life, putting his family's needs above his own, like his father and grandfather before him. But is a happy life, or even a meaningful life, the only path to a good life? In Life in Three Dimensions, Shige Oishi enters into a debate that has animated psychology since 1984, when Ed Diener (Oishi's mentor) published a paper that launched happiness studies.
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The 5 Resets
- Rewire Your Brain and Body for Less Stress and More Resilience
- By: Aditi Nerurkar
- Narrated by: Aditi Nerurkar
- Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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From Harvard stress expert, nationally sought after speaker, and television correspondent Dr. Aditi Nerurkar comes a reimagined approach to overcoming your stress and burnout using five small but mighty mindset shifts.
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Articulated well.
- By Sha on 10-27-24
By: Aditi Nerurkar
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How to Be Yourself
- Quiet Your Inner Critic and Rise Above Social Anxiety
- By: Ellen Hendriksen
- Narrated by: Ellen Hendriksen
- Length: 7 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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Up to 40% of people consider themselves shy. You might say you're introverted or awkward, or that you're fine around friends but just can't speak up in a meeting or at a party. Maybe you're usually confident but have recently moved or started a new job, only to feel isolated and unsure. If you get nervous in social situations - meeting your partner's friends, public speaking, standing awkwardly in the elevator with your boss - you've probably been told, "Just be yourself!" But that's easier said than done - especially if you're prone to social anxiety.
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"Life" Changing
- By Lisa on 05-22-18
By: Ellen Hendriksen
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Why We Remember
- Unlocking Memory's Power to Hold on to What Matters
- By: Charan Ranganath PhD
- Narrated by: Mark Deakins, Charan Ranganath PhD
- Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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A new understanding of memory is emerging from the latest scientific research. In Why We Remember, pioneering neuroscientist and psychologist Charan Ranganath radically reframes the way we think about the everyday act of remembering. Combining accessible language with cutting-edge research, he reveals the surprising ways our brains record the past and how we use that information to understand who we are in the present, and to imagine and plan for the future.
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The subject was interesting read in a calming tone
- By mjk on 04-05-25
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Matters of the Heart
- Healing Your Relationship with Yourself and Those You Love
- By: Thema Bryant PhD
- Narrated by: Thema Bryant PhD
- Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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As a psychologist and minister with more than twenty years of experience, Dr. Thema understands how challenging it can be to create and cultivate healthy relationships—and how critical it is for our well-being. Matters of the Heart draws on the wisdom of science, sacredness, and lived experience to help listeners tend to the garden of their hearts and build their best relational lives.
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Healing every aspect of your life
- By Regina Davis on 04-15-25
By: Thema Bryant PhD
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High Functioning
- Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy
- By: Judith Joseph, Mel Robbins - foreword
- Narrated by: Judith Joseph, Mel Robbins
- Length: 6 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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We're all familiar with what depression can look like, but there's another, lesser‑known face to this illness. High functioning depression (HFD) doesn't conform to the image of depression that typically comes to mind. As a result, people with HFD often have no idea why they are suffering, or what to do about it. In High Functioning, Dr. Judith Joseph reveals that what we’re feeling is not simply “negativity” or stress, and radically shifts the way those of us with HFD see ourselves, empowering us with five simple tools to reclaim our lives from this widespread yet poorly understood condition.
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Total Game Changer
- By Angela Snyder on 04-13-25
By: Judith Joseph, and others
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The Art of the Interesting
- What We Miss in Our Pursuit of the Good Life and How to Cultivate It
- By: Lorraine Besser PhD
- Narrated by: Lauren Ezzo
- Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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Do you know anyone who's truly living The Good Life? Traditionally, philosophers and psychologists have thought of the Good Life in terms of happiness or meaning, or some combination of both. But, if it’s really that simple, if all you need is more happiness or meaning to get to the Good Life, why aren’t more of us achieving that truly “good” life? You’ve hit all the traditional markers, jumped on the happiness train, committed to a gratitude practice, sought purpose in your work, and yet The Good Life you’re seeking, is still out of reach.
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Interesting idea, but lacks depth
- By Alex Weber on 02-25-25
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The Seat of the Soul
- 25th Anniversary Edition
- By: Gary Zukav
- Narrated by: Gary Zukav, Maya Angelou (preface), Oprah Winfrey (preface)
- Length: 10 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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With the same extraordinary skill that he used to demystify scientific abstraction and the new physics, Gary Zukav, the award-winning author of The Dancing Wu Li Masters, here takes us on a brilliant and penetrating exploration of the new phase of evolution we have now entered.
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A True Spiritual Classic
- By Vik on 02-22-06
By: Gary Zukav
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People Pleaser
- Breaking Free from the Burden of Imaginary Expectations
- By: Jinger Vuolo, Julie Lyles Carr - contributor
- Narrated by: Jinger Vuolo
- Length: 6 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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From childhood to early adulthood, Jinger Duggar Vuolo followed the expectations of others, never taking the time to discover who she truly was. It wasn't until she asked herself the question, "Who am I?" that she realized she was a people pleaser. This realization led her on a journey of self-discovery and ultimately, to rely on God for her approval and sense of self-worth. Through her faith and reliance on God, Jinger began to break free from the need for approval and discover true freedom.
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Self help book
- By MGat on 01-19-25
By: Jinger Vuolo, and others
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Do Nothing
- How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving
- By: Celeste Headlee
- Narrated by: Celeste Headlee
- Length: 7 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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In Do Nothing, award-winning journalist Celeste Headlee illuminates a new path ahead, seeking to institute a global shift in our thinking so we can stop sabotaging our well-being, put work aside, and start living instead of doing. As it turns out, we’re searching for external solutions to an internal problem. We won’t find what we’re searching for in punishing diets, productivity apps, or the latest self-improvement schemes. Yet all is not lost - we just need to learn how to take time for ourselves, without agenda or profit, and redefine what is truly worthwhile.
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I almost never leave reviews
- By keli wolfe on 03-03-22
By: Celeste Headlee
What listeners say about Practical Optimism
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Anonymous User
- 11-30-24
The tools given!
Dr. Sue Varma’s Practical Optimism offers a refreshing and actionable blueprint for cultivating resilience and joy in everything you do. How timely for me as I have entered a new chapter in my life. Dr Varma lays out 8 pillars like purpose, emotional processing, and healthy habits to name a few, she provides this with science-backed tools for thriving in life’s challenges. Grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy and enriched by personal stories, the book is both useful and inspiring.
I believe it is empowering guide for building a fulfilling life, Practical Optimism is a must-read for anyone seeking balance, positivity, and purpose in our day to day lives   .
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- Amazon Customer
- 03-13-24
We all could use some Practical Optimism
Excellent book on Practical Optimism. Thoroughly enjoyed the audible version of this book which was narrated beautifully and clearly by Dr. Varma. This book offers practical and actionable tips! Highly recommend!
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- Kindle Customer
- 12-11-24
Practical Optimism
It was excellent in every way! I loved everything about it. Kudos to the author!
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- @DrCarlHoffman
- 05-03-24
A Very Helpful Book
I really benefited from
reading this book twice. I had a couple of personal issues to deal with, but mostly I exhibit healthy habits. My healthy habits were affirmed by this book.
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- stacey
- 04-18-24
Practical and empowering
I have read several books on this topic, and this is by far, one of my favorites! So practical, giving step-by-step ideas on how to achieve the goal of practical optimism. Very user-friendly, very applicable, and one that does not pander to the crowd of victim mentality. Great book! Highly recommend.
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- EricTIPG
- 04-11-24
Absolutely Fabulous!
Wonderful insights and practical exercises to strengthen your mental and emotional positivity muscles! Highly recommended.
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- Cliente de Kindle
- 07-29-24
super complete
this a a book that covers all the important things that you have to máster as a human being to be your best version for you and yours.
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- Nicole P.
- 11-15-24
Compelling Principles
I loved everything about this book. I feel so grateful for the author’s insights and practical tools for living a life of meaning and connection.
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