How helpful is HOPE?

Today, Dr Emily talks about hope. And in a world where things can feel a little bit hopeless, this really couldn’t have come at a better time. In contrast to all of our understanding up until this point, hope is not an emotion. Expertly defined by Dr Emily, hope is a belief. And most significantly, it can be learned, and it can be cultivated. Psychological mic-drop. This episode delves into strategies for creating both a sense of collective and individual hope, and in a discovery which happens to be VERY on-brand for this podcast, Dr Emily talks to the significance of vulnerability and connection in living a hopeful life. We hope you enjoy this one as much as we did. 0:00 – She’s backkkkkk (and she’s writing a book ?!?!?) 6:46 – Hope: what does it actually mean 22:51 – Cynicism vs hopeful scepticism 33:50 – Acknowledging the loss, noticing the good 41:17 – Exposing ourselves to uncertainty 48:06 – Hope drives positive behaviour, but it doesn’t protect you from failure 57:57 – Acts of moral beauty 1:04:49 – Action creates the belief 📚To pre-order Dr Emily’s book *Unstuck*, click here - https://bit.ly/4bhmCp2 🫖 Other Imperfects episodes mentioned in this episode Dr Julia Baird - An Awe-full Conversation 📖 Things to read Martin Seligman - Theory of Learned Hopelessness - https://bit.ly/3EY1oR2 Rick Snyder - Hope Theory: Rainbows in the Mind - https://bit.ly/4bAbu6Z Jamil Zacki - Hope for Cynics - [https://www.jamil-zaki.com](https://www.jamil-zaki.com/) Robyn Walser - Heart of ACT - https://amzn.to/4izIv5x Barbara Frederikson - Reflections on Positive Emotions and Upward Spirals - https://bit.ly/3EY2yfl Nick Cave’s letter - https://bit.ly/3ETlr2O Victor Frankl - Man’s Search For Meaning - https://bit.ly/4iizuNM 💻Things to check out Dacher Keltner’s work - https://bit.ly/3XfJpfe Obama’s ‘Hope’ poster - https://bit.ly/4kgkvG4 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ZmSCzs... Instagram: @theimperfectspodcast The Imperfects is not a licensed mental health service and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, treatment or assessment. The advice given in this episode is general in nature, but if you’re struggling, please see a healthcare professional, or call lifeline on 13 11 14.