But this kind of optimism, psychological, philosophical and practical, has been vital to human survival and progress. Positive News editors select the week’s top stories of progress, bringing you the essential briefing about what's going right. Shackleton said ahead of the expedition: “The quality I look for most is optimism: especially optimism in the face of reverses and apparent defeat. It required them to believe, despite the evidence, that better times were ahead.” Though The Bright Side is not a self-help book, Paul-Choudhury believes optimism isn’t only for times of adversity. For everyday life challenges, it’s still about the willingness to believe there are positive possibilities out there that you don’t expect he explains.