ptimism sees opportunity in every
challenge, giving us the motivation to
persevere and innovate even in difficult
times.
THROUGH ROSE-
COLORED GLASSES
Lessons on Optimism, Loyalty, and Red Flags
Lessons on Optimism, Loyalty, and Red Flags
By Dr. Donna Card-Sessoms
By Dr. Donna Card-Sessoms
But what happens when optimism and loyalty
blur our ability to see the red flags waving
right before us? The very qualities that drove
me to succeed also made it hard to recognize
the subtle signs of trouble. I am deeply loyal—
not just to my family and friends, but it often
extends to the team, my department, the
vision of the leader, and the mission of the
organization. Alhamad and Amirah (2024)
describe employee loyalty as a strong
commitment to their employer, leading to
increased engagement, productivity, and a
willingness to go above and beyond. This
resonates with me deeply. But this loyalty has
not always served me well. In a previous role,
I believed that my optimism could improve a
toxic work environment, while my loyalty kept
me there longer than I should have, hoping
for change that never came.
Loyalty builds trust and strengthens
relationships, creating a foundation for
collaboration in both personal and professional
spaces. These qualities have often helped me
maintain a positive outlook, foster collaboration,
and remain dedicated to long-term goals. For a
perpetual optimist, who sees the glass as half full,
lemons make lemonade and lemon pie, problems
were opportunities to build and accomplish more
goals and became my modus operandi. After all,
my blood type is B+. For me, challenges were
stepping stones, and I operated with the belief
that everything would work out for the best—
because the best was always yet to come.