There’s a reason nearly half of women say they’re at least somewhat pessimistic about 2026.
Economic uncertainty, an increasingly unpredictable job market, and growing political distrust are shaping how women are thinking about their futures, and just as importantly, how they decide where to invest their time, energy, and resources to advance their careers.
For many of us, it’s difficult to chart a path without acknowledging what reality is signaling. Return on our hard work doesn’t feel guaranteed.
Rather than attempting to override that feeling with forced optimism, it may be more useful to confront our pessimism to identify what it’s actually communicating. What can it tell us about alignment, sustainability, and the kinds of decisions that make sense at this moment?
“Pessimism shows up for a reason,” says Tori Myskiw, founder of Luma Therapy. “It’s your body waving a red flag that something is off. Boundaries are tested, your boundaries are out of sync, or your nervous system needs a break.”
What’s often treated as a mindset to “correct” may actually be some of the most valuable information we have heading into a new year. A way our brains recognize patterns, help us make smarter pivots, set clearer boundaries, and avoid romanticizing experiences when the circumstances and evidence suggest otherwise.
If that uneasy feeling resonates, here’s how to structure a year that protects your energy, supports your growth, and makes room for work that actually matters.
Your pessimism is warranted
Quick moment of transparency. Going into this piece, I had to confront my own discomfort with the word pessimism. By definition, a pessimistic person is someone who expects the worst. Someone so focused on the negative that a positive path forward isn’t visible. As a high- achiever, that label immediately made me feel smaller.
Writing this challenged that view, and what I finally landed on is this: pessimism isn’t always rooted in a limited belief of what we’re capable of. Sometimes, it shows up as acknowledgement of the consistent, visible, in-your-face patterns. And in that context, pessimism isn’t a flawed mindset. It’s a self-preserving response.
Our skepticism around how things will play out in our careers often reflects awareness of very real, unfavorable situations.
Myskiw explains, “Skepticism is your brain’s way of asking questions, not punishing you. It’s helpful when it nudges you to pause, reflect, and make intentional decisions instead of spiraling into guilt or overthinking.”
Much of the survey feedback from women about why they feel the way they do right now is tied to everyday stability. One respondent shared, “I’m concerned about stretching my dollar and how far it will actually go.” Another named an even more urgent fear in “trying to afford a place to live or becoming homeless.”
For many others, pessimism is shaped by the state of the job market itself. Mass layoffs, long stretches of unemployment, and the exhaustion of applying for roles without response have made security feel much more fragile. One woman shared, “I got laid off in September and I foresee actually getting hired being less and less likely. I’m more afraid for my security and wellbeing than I ever was in 2020.”
These responses make it clear that pessimism isn’t random negativity. It’s grounded in patterns that we’re seeing repeat day after day, often without relief. Our concerns, our uneasiness, our lack of trust in systems are all warranted.
I want you to feel validated in that. Feeling uncomfortable in this moment doesn’t mean you’re failing to be optimistic enough. It means you’re paying attention.
The more important question, then, isn’t whether our pessimism is justified. It’s what will we do with those signals? How can we avoid getting stuck in the version of pessimism that keeps us frozen and instead lean into something more useful?
To that point, Miskiw says, “Working with pessimism isn’t about pushing yourself into optimism. It’s about tuning into what your body is telling you and making choices that actually align with your values.”
What to do with those uneasy feelings
We give them a voice.
When pessimism or worry is acknowledged instead of dismissed, it can help clarify what’s actually sustainable right now. It can push us to question default expectations around productivity, ambition, or constant availability. It can also help us recognize when something in our lives or career no longer fits, even if it once did.
Getting there starts with asking ourselves better questions like:
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What kind of work or commitments feel worth the effort right now?
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What expectations do I have about my work, my relationships, or career path that need to change at this moment?
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Where do I need more stability, and where can I afford to take more risk?
This might look like opting out of a position that demands constant overextension even if it looks like a big step forward on paper. Or saying no to opportunities that require unpaid labor or disproportionate emotional energy, especially when the proof of past experience has shown that there’s a lack of forward movement.
Personality psychologist Julie K. Norem, author of The Positive Power of Negative Thinking, writes about using ‘defensive pessimism’ as a tool for managing anxiety, stating that it “keeps your mind anchored and focuses you on the things you can control.” Pessimism, in this framing, shifts from being “negative” to having the tools for clearer decision-making.
Myskiw encourages a similar approach. “Treat pessimistic thoughts like signals, not verdicts,” she advises. “Ask yourself what’s really behind the doubt or what your body is communicating in that moment. From there, shift from self-criticism to curiosity or strategy instead of pushing past the discomfort.”
That might mean setting firmer boundaries around work hours, delegating tasks that shouldn’t be yours, or committing to small routines that help to regulate stress. It might also look like simply saying no when something is consistently draining more than it gives back.
Another signal to pay attention to, Myskiw notes, is when pessimism repeatedly points you away from the same kinds of tasks or projects. “It’s often highlighting what doesn’t align with your energy, values, or goals,” she says.
If a certain type of project or interaction consistently brings up resistance or dread, it may not be a motivation issue at all. It may be your mind recognizing a familiar pattern of something that demands emotional energy without meaningful return.
“This is how pessimism turns into forward movement,” she says. “The goal isn’t to erase it, but to work with it, let it guide you, and make choices you actually feel proud of.”
Making your pessimism useful
Working with pessimism as a tool often shows up in the ‘no’s’ and the decisions we make for preservation. It may be the pause before committing to a role, project, or responsibility. Or it could be the honest evaluation of whether a decision makes sense given current home dynamics, job realities, or capacity.
When choosing what you’ll prioritize this year, Myskiw suggests asking: “Does this actually align with what I want and value? Am I doing it because it matters, or just because I feel like I should? Is saying no here protecting my energy for the work I actually care about?”
“If your skepticism makes you set boundaries, clarify priorities, or slow down to think, it’s doing exactly what it should,” she adds. “If it’s just looping fear or self-critique, it’s time to hit pause, check your mindset, and give yourself some compassion.”
Working with pessimism often means shifting focus away from outcomes and toward capacity. Your decisions will become less about proving resilience in difficult times and more about protecting energy and agency so that you can show up as the best version of yourself. Or choosing work you can stand behind, even if that choice looks slower or less impressive from the outside.
Therapists and coaches often emphasize the power of reframing the internal dialogue that accompanies pessimism. Instead of interpreting hesitation as self-doubt, view it as discernment. A signal to slow down, gather information, reassess tradeoffs, and renegotiate expectations before moving forward.
It’s also important to remember that moving forward doesn’t always look like acceleration. Sometimes it looks like making fewer commitments and measuring progress in steadiness rather than speed.
“We aren’t meant to constantly push through or chase perfection,” Myskiw says. “When we slow down and let go of the pressure to ‘power through,’ we create space to adjust the plan instead of abandoning ourselves.”
Start with a pause
You don’t need to get rid of your pessimism. You just need to tune into what it’s telling you. And you can begin right now—with your body.
“Taking a breath, going for a walk, calling a friend, or moving your body gives your nervous system room to speak,” Myskiw says. “Once you pause, you can actually hear what the pessimism is trying to tell you.”
That pause will likely reveal something practical like which projects might require you to ignore your limits, and which opportunities look promising but may not actually support the life you’re trying to build.
Your “good” pessimism offers direction. It helps narrow the field and filter out what isn’t aligned. This pruning opens up space for work and projects that reflect your values, feel worth the effort, and leave you with a sense of pride.
As Myskiw reminds us, "[Pessimism] is not a flaw. It’s your inner wisdom protecting your energy and wellbeing.”
