The life-changing magic of active optimism. State of the AI economy 2026. Where do you feel out of integrity?

One “must” for this week: The life-changing magic of active optimism

In this week’s curation newsletter: a reflection from Sahil Bloom on “Active Optimism”, or the belief that things will work out paired with a willingness to do the work to make it true.

Research consistently shows that optimists live longer and perform better: not because of luck, but because their positive way to see things drives them to engage with challenges rather than avoid them.

Like the farmer in the fable who only freed his wagon after heeding Hercules’ call to push, the difference comes not from faith alone, but from adding to that faith with a shoulder to the wheel and doing the real work.

Personal development

• The life-changing magic of active optimism

• America’s economic anxiety is rising up the income ladder

• Brunello Cucinelli

• How to reinvent your life in 30 days

• Stop confusing your dreams with your goals

• The cost of possibility

• The mindset expert: perform under pressure when everyone else chokes

• Why you need a tennis ball at work

Innovation

• State of the AI economy 2026

• 10 things that matter in AI right now

• A futurist’s warning: “Work is about to break”

• A global workspace in language models

• A script for Mark Zuckerberg

• Adam Brown - a deep but accessible introduction to general relativity

• On the importance of desperate customers

• The symbiotic enterprise

Leadership and management

• Where do you feel out of integrity?

• A Small Problem

• Business owners have it easier

• Great leaders know which emotions their feedback will trigger

• Looking out for the burnt-out one

• Want workers to reskill? Show them who they can become

• What 60 years of data reveals about how men and women experience leadership

• When nothing happens

One book

“The Aging Brain” by Thad A.Polk.