Neurotheology, Part 2: The Formation of Hope with Curt Thompson, MD

We’re back with Curt Thompson, MD, to talk about hope.


Have you ever wondered how to summon hope when everything seems
bleak? Is hope a fleeting notion or something we can truly
cultivate?

Hope, like faith and love, is not just an abstraction, but a
skill we can nurture. It's a profound practice that finds its
home in both our minds and bodies.

Curt shares: “The things that I pay attention to on purpose, I
remember. And what I remember becomes my anticipated future. Hope
is a function of the mind that addresses the future. And this is
what I mean when I say hope is a thing that I form by paying
attention to the glory that is offered to me in the middle of my
pain, in the present moment. And it requires lots and lots of
practice, but it then is not like, ‘Oh, maybe I'll have hope. I
hope I have hope.’ It's a thing that I maybe I won't like. And
so… I'm going to have to practice.” 


 


We thrive on shared experiences of hope within a community. Even
a brief 3-minute interaction can spark the daring prospect of
relying on another person. Our communal practice etches hope into
our brain's pathways, grounding it in the way we engage with one
another. Although personal introspection has its place, the true
growth of hope blossoms within the context of human connection.



Tune in to this thought-provoking dialogue as we explore the
intricacies of cultivating hope and the transformative power of
embracing it together.

As you listen, we’d be honored if you shared this episode with
someone else, too!

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