The Climate Optimist Venn Diagram
Turning Optimism into a Practice for Change
What exactly is climate optimism, and how can we be optimistic about the future, especially with the climate crisis right at our doorstep?
That is a question I get a lot of the time, and something I like to remind people, as I remind myself so often, is that optimism isn't a mindset or an attitude — it’s a practice.
But what exactly does that practice look like? That is what I aim to break down with The Climate Optimist Venn Diagram.
Climate optimism is not what I call toxic positivity, where we rely on the outside world to give us reasons for hope. Hope is an active participation in what we believe is possible next.
It's in our actions that hope is brewed, and it's also where we nurture and grow our optimism. So optimism is a practice, and it's one that we can actually start to understand quite easily when we map it out. To better explain the practice of climate optimism, I have created what I call the Climate Optimist Venn diagram.
It's a three-pillar Venn Diagram that really speaks to the core essential pieces of climate optimism and how they can play a part — and should be playing a part — in your life, in your work, in your mission, and in our time here on earth right now, living through these pretty unprecedented times.
In this episode, I walk you through the Venn Diagram piece by piece and invite you into the practice of climate optimism. In a world often clouded by doom and despair about the future, climate optimism isn’t about ignoring reality. It’s about cultivating hope through consistent, intentional action.
Let’s get into it!
The Climate Optimist Venn Diagram as created by Anne Therese Gennari. Download the detailed version below.
The Climate Optimist Venn Diagram Explained
(Inspired by this podcast episode)
1. Inner Development — Strength from Within
True change starts by looking inward. The first pillar is inner leadership: developing emotional resilience, courage, and clarity. In a world of overwhelm, inner development helps us stay aware of the climate crisis without falling into despair.
Anne Therese draws connections between this pillar and the Inner Development Goals (IDGs) — a framework that complements the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Because without inner growth, outer change can’t happen.
“The future we dream of unfolds through the courage it takes to show up differently.”
2. Taking Action — Finding Your Sweet Spot
Action is the antidote to despair. Research shows that taking even small steps can relieve climate anxiety and create a sense of agency. But Anne Therese encourages us to act not out of guilt or duty — but from joy and purpose.
She introduces three narrative shifts:
From responsibility to opportunity
From minimizing our footprint to maximizing our impact
From saving the old world to co-creating a new one
When we align our actions with what we love and where we thrive, optimism becomes self-sustaining.
3. Community — We Don’t Do This Alone
No one can sustain optimism in isolation. Community provides momentum, belonging, and perspective. Some days, others carry the torch when we can’t.
Anne Therese compares this journey to a road trip: when we travel with others, we can rest while progress continues. Building community around shared purpose keeps the movement alive — and keeps us grounded in hope.
The Science Behind Feeling Good
Optimism literally feels good because the practice releases serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins — the body’s natural “happiness hormones.” From mindfulness to movement to connection, these chemicals reinforce why taking action and staying engaged bring both personal joy and collective benefit.
When the three pillars intersect — inner work, outer action, and community — we feel grounded, empowered, and supported. This is the foundation of climate optimism: not blind hope, but practiced participation in what’s possible.
If you want to explore this framework more deeply, you can download the free Climate Optimist Venn Diagram, join Anne Therese for the upcoming Climate Optimist Retreat in El Salvador, or book her for a keynote or workshop.
Climate optimism is an empowerment tool available for all of us to activate — do your part to bring this message to your community or company.
Because optimism isn’t just how we think about the future — it’s how we build it, one empowering conversation at a time.
