Surveying Americans on Optimism in 2023

Optimism is the mindset that sprinkles hope on the mundane and turns lemons into lemonade. It’s the belief that even when life throws curveballs, we can hit them out of the park with a smile on our faces. While not everyone wakes up every day with a glimmer in their eye and a can-do attitude, it certainly comes more naturally to some than others.

Of course, there are many factors that come into play with a person’s attitude and perceptions. One of the biggest influencers is an individual’s location and environment — from the home they live in to the city they call home. That’s why we wanted to know which U.S. states are the most and least optimistic. Are there geographical trends associated with positive thinking? We surveyed 2,000+ Americans — read on to see what we found. 

The Most & Least Optimistic U.S. States

According to our survey, Georgia wins the title as the most positive state, with an optimism score of 86 out of a possible 100. A remarkable 88% of its residents say they typically give people the benefit of the doubt. Moreover, a significant 40% of Georgians hold a steadfast belief that their dream jobs are within reach, exemplifying a collective spirit that embraces possibilities with open arms.

Close behind at #2 is Louisiana, where 79% consider themselves to be more optimistic than pessimistic. That might not sound like much, but given that 68% of the general population identifies with this sentiment, a near four out of five individuals deeming themselves as optimistic is an impressive feat.

Securing third place in our ranking is Ohio, where an impressive 28% of its residents showcase the ability to bounce back from setbacks and recover their spirits within a matter of minutes when things don’t go as planned.

Notably, 48% of Mississippians believe in dream jobs, making them the most professionally optimistic. Similarly, 84% of Massachusetts locals believe in true love, making them the biggest hopeless romantics (and we support that!).

On the flip side, Arizona ranks as the least optimistic state. In the Grand Canyon State, just 14% of residents believe that their dream jobs are within reach and a mere 10% hold the view that a recession is not on the horizon.

The Optimistic Mindset Around the U.S.

Zooming out, our national insights identified that the older you are, the more likely you are to be a self-proclaimed optimist. Gen Z and millennials are the least optimistic age groups, with a collective optimism rate of 65.6%, while Baby Boomers emerge as the most optimistic generation, at 78.6%.

When asked to rate their average attitude on a scale of 1 to 10, Baby Boomers shine again. The older generation rates their overall attitude 13.1% higher than the average American at 7.6 compared to the average score of 6.8. Baby Boomers are also the most likely to assume the best in people (87.9%). 

We often see people’s true attitudes through their responses to major life events, both good and bad. When it comes to financial doom, 82.3% believe that a recession is imminent — though women are slightly more likely to share this sentiment than men 

Similarly, just 27.9% believe that achieving a dream job is realistic throughout a lifetime. As a person gains experience and perspective, dream jobs often change and evolve, which may be why 38.9% of Gen Z still believe in dream jobs, compared to 22.8% of millennials.

We can’t help but mention that 68.8% believe the average person can find true love during their lifetime. Interestingly, women exhibit a greater inclination toward this optimistic sentiment, with a noteworthy 19% more of them expressing belief in the possibility of true love compared to their male counterparts.

When asked how people respond to something not going their way, gender plays a role yet again. 18.7% of men say it takes just a few minutes to bounce back, while 12.7% of women share this speedy resilience, alluding to the idea that men may be able to let things go slightly quicker than women.

Closing Thoughts

Feelings about recessions and dream jobs aside, we can all agree that the world is a better place when more people are happy. As the nation continues to evolve and face new realities, the power of optimism serves as a beacon of hope, driving individuals and communities forward in the pursuit of a brighter future.

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Methodology

Based on a survey of 2,156 respondents in June of 2023. The following states were omitted due to insufficient sample sizes: Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming. The overall optimism ranking is based on responses to the questions in our survey, quantified into an overall score of 0 to 100, with 100 indicating the most possible optimism.