Nelly Korda, a women’s professional golfer, entered the 2026 USGA Women's Open as the favorite.

Her #1 world ranking made her the obvious pick. But what most people didn't see was what she had been working on behind the scenes, and it had nothing to do with her swing.

Korda spent this past year focused on being more positive. Her fiancé had been nudging her in that direction, telling her she needed to bring a more positive attitude. She took it seriously. But she was also clear that outside encouragement only goes so far. At the end of the day, she said, the only person who can make that change is herself.

So she built a habit. At the start of the year, she began writing positive notes to herself and sticking them on her bathroom mirror. She even travels with post-it notes, putting one up wherever she's staying and giving herself one positive thought to carry through the week.

Then she went out and won the US Women's Open by a mere one shot.

Is that the only reason she won? No. But it might have been the difference maker.

Here's what I keep coming back to. The best in the world aren't just working on their craft. They're working on a positive mindset. Call it corny, but if a Post-it note on a bathroom mirror is good enough for the top-ranked women's golfer on the planet, it might just be good enough for you and me.

So the only question would be, what would you write on your Post-it note this week?

P.S. The Optimistic Outlook is a Podcast! Leaving a rating or review wherever you listen to podcasts would mean a lot.