Rewiring Your Brain for Hope: How to Overcome Cynicism with Dr. Jamil Zaki

Dave Asprey

Sep 5, 2024

Episode description

In this episode of The Human Upgrade, Dave Asprey welcomes Dr. Jamil Zaki, a professor of psychology at Stanford University and the director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab. Dr. Zaki discusses the critical intersection between empathy, cynicism, and hope, exploring the impacts of negativity bias, cynicism in modern society, and how we can rewire our brains to become more hopeful. Drawing from his latest research and new book, Hope for Cynics, Dr. Zaki shares profound insights on human goodness, how we can challenge our biases, and the practices that can help us foster a more positive outlook on the world.

Sponsors:

Puori | Visit https://puori.com/dave and use code DAVE for 20% storewide.
ARMRA | Go to https://tryarmra.com/ and use the code DAVE to get 15% off your first order.

Resources:

Jamil Zaki’s website: jamil-zaki.com
Jamil Zaki's New Book: Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness
Dave's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/daveasprey
Dave Asprey’s Book ‘Smarter Not Harder’ is out now: https://daveasprey.com/books
Want to join The Human Upgrade Podcast Live? Join Our Upgrade Collective: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com/
Danger Coffee by Dave Asprey: https://www.instagram.com/dangercoffeeofficial/
Supplements by Dave Asprey: https://shopsuppgradelabs.com/
Own an Upgrade Labs: https://ownanupgradelabs.com/

Timestamps and Highlights:

00:00:01 – Introduction by Dave Asprey
00:02:00 – Dr. Zaki on Cynicism and Empathy
00:05:30 – The Science Behind Empathy and Human Goodness
00:10:00 – The Impact of Negativity Bias on Decision-Making
00:15:00 – How to Overcome Cynicism Through Skepticism
00:20:30 – Practices to Foster Empathy and Optimism
00:30:00 – Understanding Cynicism in the Digital Age
00:35:00 – Building Hope in Relationships and Society

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/p

Episode description

Sponsors:

Puori | Visit https://puori.com/dave and use code DAVE for 20% storewide.
ARMRA | Go to https://tryarmra.com/ and use the code DAVE to get 15% off your first order.

Resources:

Jamil Zaki’s website: jamil-zaki.com
Jamil Zaki's New Book: Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness
Dave's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/daveasprey
Dave Asprey’s Book ‘Smarter Not Harder’ is out now: https://daveasprey.com/books
Want to join The Human Upgrade Podcast Live? Join Our Upgrade Collective: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com/
Danger Coffee by Dave Asprey: https://www.instagram.com/dangercoffeeofficial/
Supplements by Dave Asprey: https://shopsuppgradelabs.com/
Own an Upgrade Labs: https://ownanupgradelabs.com/

Timestamps and Highlights:

00:00:01 – Introduction by Dave Asprey
00:02:00 – Dr. Zaki on Cynicism and Empathy
00:05:30 – The Science Behind Empathy and Human Goodness
00:10:00 – The Impact of Negativity Bias on Decision-Making
00:15:00 – How to Overcome Cynicism Through Skepticism
00:20:30 – Practices to Foster Empathy and Optimism
00:30:00 – Understanding Cynicism in the Digital Age
00:35:00 – Building Hope in Relationships and Society

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/p

Mindsip insights from this episode:

Avoid pre-disappointment to enhance life experiences

Be careful not to let disappointment in one person turn into 'pre-disappointment,' a cynical state where you expect the worst from everyone and limit your life experiences.

#emotion

#mindset

Reassess social risks to enhance connections with others

We are too socially risk-averse because we consistently overestimate the awkwardness and underestimate the fulfillment of connecting with others, like striking up a conversation with a stranger.

#relationships

#risk

Cultivate trust to combat cynicism and enhance lifespan

Long-term studies following thousands of people have found that cynical individuals who are less willing to trust others actually end up dying younger than non-cynics.

#longevity

#mind

Savor positive moments in real-time to enhance gratitude

Instead of only recalling good things at the end of the day, practice savoring by noting positive events in real-time to counteract your brain's tendency to erase them.

#gratitude

#mindfulness

Protect endothelial glycocalyx for optimal circulation

A key to great circulation is protecting the endothelial glycocalyx, the ultra-thin lining of your blood vessels, using products like Arterosil HP.

#circulation

#glycocalyx

Practice hopeful skepticism to embrace positive surprises

Adopt 'hopeful skepticism' by being open to evidence while actively counteracting your brain's tendency to focus on negative information, realizing pleasant surprises are likely everywhere.

#positivity

#skepticism

Challenge cynicism to foster genuine trust and understanding

Unlike skeptics who act like scientists gathering evidence, cynics are actually gullible because they naively mistrust everyone based on their internal biases.