How to Feel More Hopeful
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How can we build a sense of hope when the future feels uncertain? Poet Tom\\xe1s Mor\\xedn tries a writing practice to make him feel more hopeful and motivated to work toward his goals.
\\n\\nLink to episode transcript: https://tinyurl.com/9d73zav8
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This is the second episode of our special series, Climate, Hope & Science. We explore the intersection of environmental well-being and our own well-being, where taking care of ourselves and the planet are one in the same and feeling good is not only possible, it\\u2019s helpful. We find the links between crisis, hope, happiness, and action.
\\n\\nLook for the third and final episode May 11. Plus, we\\u2019ll share climate-focused Happiness Breaks next week and May 18.
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Episode summary:
\\n\\nIn the first episode of Climate, Hope & Science, we explored the power of hope with Rebecca Solnitt. Hope can help us cope with uncertainty and sustain action, even when we don\\u2019t know what will happen. But what can we do when hope feels far away? This week, we learn about a practice shown in a lab to increase hopefulness and happiness. Poet and professor Tom\\xe1 Mor\\xedn got his first taste of climate anxiety as a kid, when he learned about the hole in the ozone layer, and he still feels the panic over the state of the environment today. Will writing about a past hope that was fulfilled \\u2014 like the global effort to heal the ozone layer \\u2014 help him overcome despair and cultivate hope? We hear about Tom\\xe1s\\u2019 experience. Then, the scientist behind the practice explains how she created it and why it works.
\\n\\nEditor\\u2019s Note: In this episode, Tom\\xe1s mentions recycling as a way to care for the environment. But in the last few years, we\\u2019ve learned that most things we toss in the recycling bin are never made into something new. If you\\u2019d like to learn more, here are a few places to start:
\\nhttps://tinyurl.com/3y9u2y5w
Today\\u2019s Practice:
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Find a quiet space and grab paper and something to write with.
\\nWrite about something you\'re currently hopeful for when it comes to climate change. Describe it as if it\\u2019s happening now in as much detail as possible. Don\\u2019t worry about spelling and grammar.
\\nNext, write about a past hope you\\u2019ve held in the past regarding the environment that\'s been fulfilled and that brings you a sense of gratitude to think about now. Describe what happened, the gratitude you felt, how you and others contributed to it, and what you learned from the experience. If you like, take these prompts one by one. Don\\u2019t worry about writing well, just write as much as you can.
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Today\\u2019s guests:
\\n\\nTom\\xe1s Morin is a poet who won an American Poetry Review Honickman First Book Prize for his collection of poems A Larger Country. He\\u2019s currently a professor at Rice University.
\\n\\nCheck out Tom\\xe1s\\u2019 work: https://www.tomasqmorin.com/About
\\n\\nRead Tom\\xe1s\\u2019 latest book: https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska/9781496226495/
\\n\\nFollow Tomas on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomasqmorin/
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Charlotte Van Oyen-Witvliet is a clinical psychologist who teaches at Hope College in Holland, Michigan.
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Resources from The Greater Good Science Center:
\\n\\nHow Hope Can Keep You Happier and Healthier: https://tinyurl.com/2n9k59xn
\\n\\nHow Gratitude Can Help You Through Hard Times: https://tinyurl.com/3b66kh5n
\\n\\nHow to Overcome \\u201cApocalypse Fatigue\\u201d Around Climate Change: https://tinyurl.com/yc47ph38
\\n\\nWhat to do With Dread and Anxiety Around Climate Change: https://tinyurl.com/3766a6sj
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Tell us about your experience finding hope for the environment. Email us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod.
\\n\\nHelp us share The Science of Happiness!
\\n\\nLeave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap
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