Acknowledge the difficulties and find the good

Trying to be optimistic about the future is not the same as ignoring or refusing to acknowledge any difficulties you’re facing. “We don’t want to veer into the toxic positivity realm, where we are completely undermining how we’re feeling at the moment,” says Dr Arroll. “That is not helpful.”

So if you’re struggling with something, allow yourself to feel those feelings. Inevitably, money is a particular source of stress for many people right now: in October, a study by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) revealed that one in four UK adults had “low financial resilience”, a proportion that had risen by 2.2 million people since 2020 – meaning they were already experiencing money problems or would struggle if they suffered a financial shock.

When we experience financial worries, our needs for safety and security are threatened, making it difficult to feel optimistic. “If we don’t feel safe and secure, or if we are struggling to keep a roof over our heads or food in our bellies, everything else becomes very difficult,” Dr Arroll says.

How to feel optimistic about 2023 (when the world feels pretty bleak)