Brian Johnson’s +1 micro-podcast summarizes Rick Snyder’s Science of Hope framework: hope comprises three interdependent components—Goals (clear, meaningful objectives), Willpower/agency (determination and confidence to pursue goals), and Waypower/pathways (planning multiple routes and adapting strategies). Johnson prompts listeners to self-assess each element (Are goals specific and challenging yet doable? Do you have willpower? Do you have adaptable plans?) and reminds listeners that basic health fundamentals (sleep, movement, nutrition) support sustained hope. The episode includes brief promotional CTAs for Heroic Us and a book.
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Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to another Optimize plus one. So Rick Snyder was the founder of Research into the Science of Hope and he was one of the pioneers of the positive psychology movement. In fact, he literally wrote the textbook on positive psychology. He documented just how important hope is to our overall well being and tells us that there are three primary components to having high hope. Goals plus Willpower plus Way Power it all starts with a goal. Happy people have projects and and happy, hopeful people have goals they have a future they're excited about that's pulling them toward it. Then we have what Rick calls willpower. Now in this context, Rick tells us that willpower is that spark of determination that says we've got this, we can hit that goal. It needs to be there in the beginning and it needs to be there after you get knocked down a few times in pursuit of that goal. Rick's protege Shane Lopez described this as agency, a sense of personal power that we have what it takes to make our dreams a reality. Then we have what Rick calls way power. Way power is all about mapping out the plans for how you will attain your goal, along with the wisdom to know that your first plan probably won't work out perfectly, requiring you to continue optimizing your strategy while while pursuing different routes to your goal. Shane Lopez called this pathways so again, goals, willpower and waypower. To be high hope, we need to have all three of those optimized. And it's obviously not enough to have goals without willpower or waypower, but it's also not enough to have goals and willpower but not have the waypower. You could be fired up and really believe you can crush it. But if you're not also doing the planning to find out all the routes to your goal, your hope will take a hit. Today's plus one. Let's do a quick check in on the status of your hope. Do you have specific, meaningful and challenging yet doable goals? Do you have a spark of determination or willpower that gives you the confidence that you can achieve your goals and helps you move through the inevitable obstacles you'll face along the way? And do you have a plan on how you can achieve your goals and a willingness to constantly tweak that plan as you get feedback from the world via a strong sense of way power. Once more Goals Way Power. I should say Goals Willpower Way Power. Where are you strong? What needs work? Here's to cultivating your resilient, grounded, yet high hope each day, day in and day out, especially when you don't feel like it. And P.S. remember, if your basic fundamentals aren't optimized, there's no way you'll be able to get yourself into that high hope state. Consistently eating, moving, sleeping well, that's the best way to boost your hope, period.
We hope you enjoyed today's +1. For more resources to help you move from theory to practice to mastery and express the best, most heroic version of yourself, head to Heroic Us Today. And if you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and hit the Follow, subscribe button on your platform of choice. And if you liked this episode, please leave a positive review and hit the Follow or Subscribe button on your platform of choice. Also, have you heard the news about Brian's book? Activate your Heroic potential head to Heroic Us Book to learn more and get your copy, as well as check out exclusive content and bonuses. That's Heroic US Book. Let's go hero.
