Today Is Going to Be a Great Day: Optimism, Resilience, and the Sunshine Within
If you live in Florida long enough, you learn that storms are part of life. Hurricanes sweep through, disrupting routines, testing patience, and demanding resilience. But you also learn something else: after the storm, the skies clear, the air feels lighter, and life rebuilds stronger. That’s why the phrase “Today is going to be a great day” resonates so deeply with me. It’s not a denial of the storm clouds overhead. It’s a declaration that, no matter what, there will be moments of calm, light, and growth in the day ahead.
The Entrepreneur’s Storms
As a retail shop owner, investor, and entrepreneur, I know what it’s like to live through daily “weather patterns.” Some mornings begin with sunshine — a wonderful customer interaction, a successful delivery, a small victory. And then, without warning, the winds shift: a supply chain delay, a team issue, or an unexpected crisis.
Early in my career, I often overreacted to these disruptions, letting them drain my energy. But over time, I realized that every challenge was another storm to navigate, not the end of the world. The more I leaned into finding solutions instead of focusing on the chaos, the stronger I became. Without realizing it, I had trained my brain to search for the positive — to expect that something good would emerge.
Mel Robbins and the Morning Mindset
In a recent episode, Mel Robbins shared her mantra: “Today is going to be a great day.” It sounds simple, but it’s profoundly powerful. Neuroscience shows that when you speak those words, your brain begins scanning the environment for proof. This is the Reticular Activating System (RAS) at work — the brain’s internal filter. Just as a hurricane hunter scans the sky for shifts in pressure and wind, your RAS scans your world for signs that align with your focus. If you tell yourself to expect good, your brain becomes a storm tracker for opportunities, silver linings, and small joys.
The Science of Optimism
Harvard Professor, Dr. Arthur Brooks, whose happiness research forms the foundation of my upcoming Happiness Roundtable, shows that optimism is not just a personality trait — it’s a learned skill linked to resilience, lower stress, and higher well-being. In fact, studies reveal that optimistic people are 30% less likely to experience burnout and consistently report stronger mental and physical health.
Optimism does not erase difficulty. Instead, it reshapes how we respond. It steadies us when the winds pick up.
I’ve seen this firsthand in business. Each time a challenge blew through my doors, I discovered that with practice, I could remain calm, make better decisions, and find unexpected wins. That shift in outlook built resilience I didn’t know I was capable of.
Storms Will Come — But Sunshine Endures
We know in Florida, hurricane season always comes around. In business and life, so do setbacks. You can’t control the storms. But you can choose your outlook.
By adopting Robbins’ two-minute morning habit and embracing Dr. Brooks’ research on optimism, you give yourself a daily anchor. You build resilience not by avoiding storms, but by training your mind to look for the sunshine that will always follow.
A Call to Leaders and Entrepreneurs
If you’re a leader, executive, or entrepreneur, you already know the storms will come. The question is: will you let them drain you, or will you train yourself — and your team — to rise stronger?
On October 14, the next cohort of the Happiness Roundtable begins. Over six weeks, we’ll explore the science of optimism, resilience, and well-being, and you’ll discover how to apply these principles to both your work and your life.
👉 Join the Happiness Roundtable starting October 14th https://www.sunshinecoachinggroup.com/shop/p/happiness-roundtable
So tomorrow morning, when you wake up, say it with me: “Today is going to be a great day.” Then join us to learn how to make sure that even in the stormiest seasons, you can find the sunshine.
