Sumit Paul-Choudhury, former editor-in-chief of New Scientist and author of 'The Bright Side,' discusses how optimism shapes our lives and enhances well-being. He explores whether optimism is innate or learned and highlights its benefits for health and success. Joining him is Dr. Sunita Saw, an award-winning Cornell professor and author of 'Defy,' who champions the power of saying 'no' in a world that pressures conformity. She redefines defiance as a means to uphold one's values and encourages listeners to embrace constructive dissent.
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insights INSIGHT
Flavors of Optimism
Optimism has various forms: psychological, philosophical, and practical.
These forms are interconnected and build upon each other.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Chicken Optimism
Chickens demonstrate optimism by choosing a grey card associated with potential food.
This behavior, observed in various animals, suggests an inherent bias towards positive outcomes.
insights INSIGHT
Optimism as Motivation
Optimism motivates action in uncertain situations.
Inaction in ambiguity can lead to stagnation and potential extinction.
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The world is full of optimists and pessimists. Which is better? How do we come to be one or the other – are we born that way? What does it mean to be an optimist and are there benefits to it? These things I explore with my guest Sumit Paul-Choudhury. He is the former Editor-in-Chief of New Scientist; he trained as an astrophysicist and has worked as a financial journalist. He is also author of the book The Bright Side: How Optimists Change the World, and How You Can Be One (https://amzn.to/3W3Ndzl).
Have you ever NOT spoken up at a meeting because it is just easier to go along with the crowd – even when you know you were right? It seems we have been taught that compliance and being a team player is best while defying the consensus is bad. Well maybe not. There is another way to look at this, which is why Dr. Sunita Sah is here. She believes saying no and defying conventional wisdom is often the right thing to do. And you can do it in a way that doesn’t offend. Sunita is an award-winning professor at Cornell University and an expert in organizational psychology. She is author of the book Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes (https://amzn.to/49Zecln)
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