The Psychology of Hope: A Blueprint for a More Hopeful Life with Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe

When the world feels heavy, hope can feel fragile, or even out of reach. In this episode, Jay sits down with award-winning behavioral psychologist Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe to unpack what hope really is and why it matters so much in difficult seasons.

Dr. Robyne explains that hope is not the same as optimism. Optimism is often tied to a specific outcome, while hope is the steady belief that no matter what happens, we will find a way through. Together, they explore the psychology of hope, the role of agency and environment, and why small daily habits can help us stay grounded when life feels uncertain.

They also talk about toxic positivity, the people who hold hope for us when we cannot hold it ourselves, and how leaders can create honest, steady environments in challenging times.

Challenge of the Week:

Ask someone, “What are you hoping for right now?” Then follow it with, “May I hope with you for that?”

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To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods.

We talk about:

[00:00] A Timely Conversation About Hope

[01:08] Hope Is Different From Optimism

[12:10] Leading With Honesty in Hard Seasons

[15:24] The Four Building Blocks of Hope

[22:43] Hope Habits That Still Work on a Bad Day

[34:26] The ONE Thing Challenge

Links & Tools from This Episode:

The ONE Thing Operating System

Read I Hope So by Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe

Free Resources

Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email [email protected]

Produced by NOVA