Life is good. Believe it. The room will mirror it.

principle — attributed to Esther Coopersmith

Coopersmith's stated philosophy is the phrase her family has heard for decades. Life is good. She actually believes it. She has an ability to block out terrible stuff and a Mickey Rooney let's-put-on-a-show energy that has carried her hosting for sixty years. The principle is not about denial. It is about the host's job to set the affective temperature of the room, and a host who walks in radiating optimism gives the guests permission to do the same. Cynicism is an option. So is its opposite. Coopersmith's career is evidence that the optimistic posture compounds.

For hosts and conveners whose role includes setting the emotional climate of a gathering. The principle is harder to apply authentically when the host does not actually feel it; performed optimism is detectable.

optimism, hosting-temperament, atmosphere, energy