The Optimist Creed

What It Is and Why It’s So Much More Than Words

At the heart of everything we do as Optimists is a simple, powerful guide:
The Optimist Creed.

Written in 1912 by Christian D. Larson, this timeless set of promises inspires us to live with hope, kindness, and confidence even when life gets tough. It's not just a set of ideals... It's a way of life.

The Creed

We promise ourselves to:

• Be so strong that nothing can disturb our peace of mind 🧘

• Talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person we meet 😊

• Make all our friends feel there is something in them 💛

• Look at the sunny side of everything and make our optimism come true ☀️

• Think only of the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best 🚀

• Be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as we are about our own 🎉

• Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future 🏁

• Wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature we meet a smile 😄

• Give so much time to improving ourselves that we have no time to criticize others 🔧

• Be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble 💪💫

Why It Matters

Living the Creed means showing up with purpose.

This isn’t just a feel-good list. It’s how we show up in our schools, neighborhoods, and communities. Whether we’re organizing scholarships, helping local kids, or simply sharing a smile, we aim to live out these values every day.