🧠 This two-word mantra is backed by science

You have a lot of offer, so please don’t be modest about what you're capable of. Being lowkey doesn’t help the right people find you.

- Case Kenny

1. Rewire your brain with TWO WORDS

I am fascinated by the power of words. They construct our reality. They rewire our brains. They set us free. One of the most interesting discoveries I’ve unearthed in 20+ years of studying the intersection of language x optimism is the power of two words: “will I?”

Let me explain…

The most powerful thing you can say to yourself before a bold move isn’t an affirmation. It’s a question. Most of us try to hype ourselves up the same way:

“I will send the email.”
“I will ask for the raise.”
“I will do this.”

It sounds confident. It feels decisive. Self-help culture has trained us to believe bold, declarative affirmations are the key. Say it like you mean it! Speak it into existence! Fake it til you make it!

Those certainly are important (you can’t find what you can’t name), but in my experience you can shout those affirmations from the mountain to amp yourself up, but then the moment arrives, and something feels off. The affirmation doesn’t carry you across the line. The energy of the affirmation doesn’t match the energy of the moment.

There’s a reason for that, and a research-backed fix that requires nothing more than swapping a period for a question mark.

In 2010, psychologists Ibrahim Senay and colleagues published a paper in Psychological Science examining whether the grammatical structure of self-talk affects motivation. Participants were asked to complete an anagram task, which was used as a proxy to measure effort and persistence.

In one experiment, participants spent a minute either questioning whether they would work on the task or affirming that they would. You’d expect the declarative group - “I will” - to perform better, right? They didn’t. The group who spent time whether they’d do the task solved significantly more anagrams.

In a second experiment, participants wrote prompts like “Will I?” or “I will” twenty times before doing the task. Again, the interrogative group performed significantly better.

Why? Because “will I” triggers answers.

When you ask “Will I send the email?” your brain begins generating reasons. It connects the action to your identity: “Yes, because I’ve been avoiding this and it’s costing me.” Yes, because I’m someone who handles things directly.” The motivation that surfaces is self-authored.

By contrast, “I will send the email” functions more like a command. Commands create pressure. Pressure creates controlled motivation - useful, but fragile. It cracks under fear and discomfort. Intrinsic motivation generated by “will I?” is more durable because it’s internally generated. It’s personal.

This isn’t about giving your brain the chance to anxiously ruminate. It’s forward-facing inquiry. Not “What if I fail?” but “Will I step up?” It’s not asking you to overthink the task at hand, it’s asking you to remember why you’re fully qualified to do the thing in front of you. You already know and “will I” reminds you.

Before the hard conversation, ask: “Will I say what needs to be said?”
Before the risk: “Will I publish this?”
Before the leap: “Will I apply?”

Ask it. Let your brain answer. You already know the answer.

» you can listen to the full episode of the podcast about this topic here

2. The world needs you

Shout out to people who've been through it all, but you'd never know it from how full of life they are. They’re delusionally optimistic. Life tested them but somehow they got more vibrant. Louder with their love. Wilder with their faith. The world needs more of these people in 2026.

3. Optimism and your star sign

I’ve never really been an astrology guy - I’ve always leaned more psychology than planets. But recently, with some nudging from my fiancée, I’ve been curious about it from a symbolic angle.

So I sat down and wrote 12 specific pieces of hope that I think you might actually need right now - and then I looked at the core traits traditionally associated with each zodiac sign and matched them intentionally. Does your sign feel accurate to you?

Your star sign is a reason to be optimistic in February.

Aries That risk you took is about to become your best decision.

Taurus What’s meant for you is finding its way to you - with ease.

Gemini  Life is about to get better overnight.

Cancer The love you give so freely is coming back to you - multiplied.

Leo You’re about to be the hottest, richest, happiest you’ve ever been.

Virgo What didn’t work out is about to become an upgrade.

Libra Life is about to feel fun again - finally.

Scorpio Life stops testing you and starts rewarding you.

Sagittarius Being a little delusional was your smartest decision.

Capricorn Life rewards you for not giving up.

Aquarius Your crazy idea is about to pay for the rest of your life.

Pisces You’re going to feel like yourself again - the you from before life got heavy.

Some things I’m excited about…

Optimism literally rewires your brain

Optimism isn’t a mood, it’s a method. and it’s one you can implement immediately because it starts with the most underrated but easily accessible tool we all have: our words.

If you’re interested in learning more about my “language of optimism” sessions for your company or community, visit this page.

Reminder…

You can listen to the audiobook version of “The Opposite of Settling” for free if you have Spotify Premium and you’re in the US. Listen here.

A secret to happiness…

When something goes wrong, ask yourself "what's the simplest explanation for this?" Usually the simple answer is true, and truth is lighter to carry than overthinking.

My name is Case. I’m passionate about the language of optimism.

For speaking/keynote inquiries click here

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