--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Real optimism is not the pep talk you…" description: "\"Real optimism is not the pep talk you give yourself. It is earned through the labor involved in emotional housekeeping.\" — Augusten Burroughs" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b8/augusten-burroughs-603_emotional_real-optimism-is-not-the-pep-talk-you-gi_20120.png" --- # Real optimism is not the pep talk you give yourself. It is… ![“Real optimism is not the pep talk you give yourself. It is earned through the labor involved in emotional housekeeping.” quote by Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b8/augusten-burroughs-603_emotional_real-optimism-is-not-the-pep-talk-you-gi_20120.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b8/augusten-burroughs-603_emotional_real-optimism-is-not-the-pep-talk-you-gi_20120.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b8/augusten-burroughs-603_emotional_real-optimism-is-not-the-pep-talk-you-gi_20120.png) > “Real optimism is not the pep talk you give yourself. It is earned through the labor involved in emotional housekeeping.” [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Optimism arises from actively managing one's emotions, not from superficial self‑encouragement. **In simple terms:** Earned optimism via emotional work. Key Takeaway True optimism requires emotional labor. Themes self‑growth emotional intelligence resilience mindset Mood hopeful reflective Type aphor motivational When to use this quote - recovering from setbacks - daily stress management - personal development - therapy sessions - team morale building Key Concepts emotional housekeeping self‑talk optimism Practical Applications - coaching for emotional resilience - designing mental‑health programs Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure emotional labor? - What habits sustain earned optimism? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Housekeeping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/housekeeping/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Optimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimism/) [Pep talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pep-talk/) ## Related quotes > [It almost seemed as if there must be some random and of course unfair thrift in the emotional housekeeping of the world, if the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/it-almost-seemed-as-if-there-must-be-some-random-and-of-course-unfair/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [My thing is "You don't need anyone else to empower you; you can empower yourself." Whether it's a pep talk or putting on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayesha-curry/my-thing-is-you-don-t-need-anyone-else-to-empower-you-you-can-empower/) [Ayesha Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayesha-curry/) > [I try not to respond with a pep talk, such as, "Everyone has talent, just try, you'll see." I skirt those kinds of answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-pinkney/i-try-not-to-respond-with-a-pep-talk-such-as-everyone-has-talent-just/) [Jerry Pinkney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-pinkney/) > [Drunken men give some of the best pep talks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/drunken-men-give-some-of-the-best-pep-talks/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Shouldn't someone give a pep talk or something?" Minho asked, pulling Thomas's attention away from Alby. "Go ahead," Newt replied. Minho nodded and faced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dashner/shouldn-t-someone-give-a-pep-talk-or-something-minho-asked-pulling/) [James Dashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dashner/) > [Dr. Everest, got up and gave us a little pep talk. Mostly it boiled down to the fact that it was autumn, and everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/dr-everest-got-up-and-gave-us-a-little-pep-talk-mostly-it-boiled-down/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [We talk a lot about the importance of physical exercise to wake us up out of the half sleep in which so many of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/we-talk-a-lot-about-the-importance-of-physical-exercise-to-wake-us-up/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [“Every morning I wake up and I tell myself this: It's just one day, one twenty-four-hour period to get yourself through. I Don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-forman/every-morning-i-wake-up-and-i-tell-myself-this-it-s-just-one-day-one-2/) [Gayle Forman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-forman/) > [Fortunately, however, birds don't understand pep talks. Not even St. Francis'. Just imagine, he went on, preaching sermons to perfectly good thrushes and goldfinches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/fortunately-however-birds-don-t-understand-pep-talks-not-even-st/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [I certainly don't mean to leave the impression that anxiety can be waved away with a simple pep talk. In fact, for some, God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-certainly-don-t-mean-to-leave-the-impression-that-anxiety-can-be/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [As a father, you find yourself telling this to your kids a lot. My son, when he didn't want to play baseball, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-lachey/as-a-father-you-find-yourself-telling-this-to-your-kids-a-lot-my-son/) [Nick Lachey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-lachey/) > [How do these celebrities stay so impossibly thin? Simple: They have full-time personal trainers, who advise them on nutrition, give them pep talks, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/how-do-these-celebrities-stay-so-impossibly-thin-simple-they-have/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [no more pep talks about believing in toads," Liza said. "Don't they turn into princeses when you kiss them?" Bonnie said. "Thats frogs," Liza…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-crusie/no-more-pep-talks-about-believing-in-toads-liza-said-don-t-they-turn/) [Jennifer Crusie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-crusie/) > [President Obama gave a speech about healthcare tonight, and yesterday he gave a pep talk to students. He told them that in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/president-obama-gave-a-speech-about-healthcare-tonight-and-yesterday/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [I go from locker to locker, pretending the guys are here. You know, give them a little bit of a pep talk. It must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-mcvie/i-go-from-locker-to-locker-pretending-the-guys-are-here-you-know-give/) Tom McVie ## More by Augusten Burroughs > [There is nothing about myself that I wouldn't reveal or write about. I don't care how horrendous or ridiculous I may appear in person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/there-is-nothing-about-myself-that-i-wouldn-t-reveal-or-write-about-i/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [“We were alone together, we were an us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/we-were-alone-together-we-were-an-us/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [Like every child, I adored her. Until I formed a brain and got to know her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/like-every-child-i-adored-her-until-i-formed-a-brain-and-got-to-know/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [“You must hang onto the scraps of the bucking moment as if your sanity and life depended on it - because actually they do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/you-must-hang-onto-the-scraps-of-the-bucking-moment-as-if-your-sanity/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [If you hate your life, you haven't' seen enough of it. If you hate your life, it's because your life is too small and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/if-you-hate-your-life-you-haven-t-seen-enough-of-it-if-you-hate-your/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [I think writers tend to be experience junkies, and I think they also tend to want to be on the outside looking in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/i-think-writers-tend-to-be-experience-junkies-and-i-think-they-also/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [I think part of the reason I'm attracted to Foster is because he's such a mess. I mean, the people I have loved in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/i-think-part-of-the-reason-i-m-attracted-to-foster-is-because-he-s/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [“On typical days, (dust) is simply irritating. On Roid Rage days, it made me want to stomp down to the highway, pull drivers out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/on-typical-days-dust-is-simply-irritating-on-roid-rage-days-it-made/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [I'm like the guy who prepares your taxes or a dentist. I'm very conservative and boring in a lot of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/i-m-like-the-guy-who-prepares-your-taxes-or-a-dentist-i-m-very/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [“Nothing surprises me now," I tell him. I am stoic. I am Joan of Arc, with liver damage and an unused penis.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/nothing-surprises-me-now-i-tell-him-i-am-stoic-i-am-joan-of-arc-with/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [“It's not that I was an outright nitwit of a child.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/it-s-not-that-i-was-an-outright-nitwit-of-a-child/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [What I really want is to sit next to someone under an L.L. bean blanket on the beach in the fall and drink coffee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/what-i-really-want-is-to-sit-next-to-someone-under-an-l-l-bean/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [“My worth depended on where exactly the decimal was placed among the zeroes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/my-worth-depended-on-where-exactly-the-decimal-was-placed-among-the/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [“Bookman isn't a stable man. He has a lot of problems that run very, very deep." But he was really good at giving head.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/bookman-isn-t-a-stable-man-he-has-a-lot-of-problems-that-run-very/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [Confidence is a reduction of your own interest in whether others are thinking about you and if so, what they're thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/confidence-is-a-reduction-of-your-own-interest-in-whether-others-are/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) [Explore all 448 Augusten Burroughs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) ## More Emotional quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [“The fact is, we in this society are often quite removed from our own emotional reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/the-fact-is-we-in-this-society-are-often-quite-removed-from-our-own/) [Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [This tendency to avoid problems and the emotional suffering inherent in them is the primary basis of all human mental illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/this-tendency-to-avoid-problems-and-the-emotional-suffering-inherent/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [I am emotional, but that's not a negative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franck-ribery/i-am-emotional-but-that-s-not-a-negative/) [Franck Ribery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franck-ribery/) > [I don't get emotional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-robertson/i-don-t-get-emotional/) [Andrew Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-robertson/) > [Nothing is more private than a woman's body; it is her physical, emotional, and moral citadel. She cannot be free at all if she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-b-smedes/nothing-is-more-private-than-a-woman-s-body-it-is-her-physical/) [Lewis B. Smedes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-b-smedes/) > [I'm an emotional eater. If something's worth celebrating, we're going to grab pizza. If it's going bad, girl, pass me the chocolate. Gotta keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurieann-gibson/i-m-an-emotional-eater-if-something-s-worth-celebrating-we-re-going/) [Laurieann Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurieann-gibson/) > [To invest successfully over a lifetime does not require a stratospheric IQ, unusual business insights, or inside information. What's needed is a sound intellectual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/to-invest-successfully-over-a-lifetime-does-not-require-a/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Male relationships are deeply emotional and hard to talk about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-lord/male-relationships-are-deeply-emotional-and-hard-to-talk-about/) [Phil Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-lord/) > [I'm simply saying that our deepest thoughts, desires and preoccupations manifest themselves in art, whether we intend them to or not. That's what art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-pegg/i-m-simply-saying-that-our-deepest-thoughts-desires-and/) [Simon Pegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-pegg/) > [First of all the criteria that I have that goes into any career decision is whether or not I have the life experience, emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/first-of-all-the-criteria-that-i-have-that-goes-into-any-career/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [“I like to see an angry Englishman," said Poirot. "They are very amusing. The more emotional they feel the less command they have of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/i-like-to-see-an-angry-englishman-said-poirot-they-are-very-amusing/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > ['Heirs' became an emotional experience for me. I had a hard time bringing out my emotions in the series. I used all my physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-min-ho/heirs-became-an-emotional-experience-for-me-i-had-a-hard-time/) [Lee Min-ho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-min-ho/) > [“Forgiveness is the process of dropping off your emotional baggage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-fargo/forgiveness-is-the-process-of-dropping-off-your-emotional-baggage/) [Tim Fargo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-fargo/) [Browse all 5,224 Emotional quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Real optimism is not the pep talk you give yourself. It is earned through the labor involved in emotional housekeeping.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Augusten Burroughs" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/real-optimism-is-not-the-pep-talk-you-give-yourself-it-is-earned/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Emotional" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/real-optimism-is-not-the-pep-talk-you-give-yourself-it-is-earned/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b8/augusten-burroughs-603_emotional_real-optimism-is-not-the-pep-talk-you-gi_20120.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b8/augusten-burroughs-603_emotional_real-optimism-is-not-the-pep-talk-you-gi_20120.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b8/augusten-burroughs-603_emotional_real-optimism-is-not-the-pep-talk-you-gi_20120.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Real optimism is not the pep talk you give yourself. It is earned through the labor involved in emotional…” — Augusten Burroughs", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Augusten Burroughs", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Real optimism is not the pep...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/real-optimism-is-not-the-pep-talk-you-give-yourself-it-is-earned/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/real-optimism-is-not-the-pep-talk-you-give-yourself-it-is-earned/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```