No Stupid Questions 86. Should We All Be Taking More Long Shots?
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Feb 13, 2022 Discover the intriguing differences between dispositional optimism and agentic hope. Learn how taking long shots can lead to unexpected growth, even if they miss the mark. The hosts share personal stories about the highs and lows of pursuing ambitious goals, emphasizing persistence and resilience. Basketball analogies illustrate how practice can turn failed attempts into successes. Plus, enjoy some lighthearted family anecdotes that bring humor to the topic of aging and optimism.
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The Power of Prospection
- Anticipation, like buying a lottery ticket before the numbers are drawn, involves visualizing success.
- Humans excel at imagining possible futures, perhaps our key evolutionary advantage.
Hope vs. Optimism
- Hope and optimism are often used interchangeably, though researchers vary.
- Two main types of hope exist: dispositional (general expectation of good) and agentic (focused on one's actions).
Stephen's Shift in Optimism
- Stephen Dubner shares how his father's early death shaped his outlook, initially fostering a sense of lurking bad things.
- He later outgrew this feeling, demonstrating the evolving nature of optimism.