How does hope work? Rutgers University clinical psychologist Dr. Jacqueline Mattis discusses hope from a scientific perspective and how we can cultivate it. In this episode we talk about: * How her family history influenced her relationship to optimism and faith * The difference between spirituality and religiosity * The benefits of hope and skills to cultivate it * The ways hope can go wrong * And the benefits of denial Dr. Mattis, who is also a Dean of faculty at Rutgers, did not start her career wanting to study hope. She started out studying spirituality and religiosity, specifically concentrating her field work and interviews in African-American and Afri-Caribbean urban communities. She wanted to know why people living under high stress conditions so often choose to be good and compassionate. And that research ultimately led her to hope. Learn more about Ten Percent Happier podcast at www.tenpercent.com. Check out guided meditations alongside practical teachings in the Ten Percent Happier app. Click here [https://10percenthappier.app.link/ins...] to get started. Full Shownotes: [https://www.tenpercent.com/podcast-episode/jacqueline-mattis-340-repost] Podcast Originally Published Wed May 11 2022 Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris Dan Harris is a fidgety, skeptical journalist who had a panic attack on live national television, which led him to try something he otherwise never would have considered: meditation. He went on to write the bestselling book, 10% Happier. On this show, Dan talks with eminent meditation teachers, top scientists, and even the odd celebrity. Guests include everyone from His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Brené Brown to Karamo from Queer Eye. On some episodes, Dan ventures into the deep end of the pool, covering subjects such as enlightenment and psychedelics. On other episodes, it’s science-based techniques for issues such as anxiety, productivity, and relationships. Dan's approach is seemingly modest, but secretly radical: happiness is a skill you can train, just like working your bicep in the gym. Your progress may be incremental at first, but like any good investment, it compounds over time. New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free. Listen 1-week early and to all episodes ad-free with Wondery+ or Amazon Music with a Prime membership or Amazon Music Unlimited subscription. Ten Percent Happier