Fact-Based Optimism: Why the World is Better Than We Think (ep. 238)
Live Inspired Podcast with John O'Leary
John O'Leary
4.9 • 672 Ratings
🗓️ 19 March 2020
⏱️ 24 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Today I welcome back Gregg Easterbrook, New York Times bestselling author + guest on one of the most popular Live Inspired Podcast episodes of all time.
When Gregg joined us in January 2019, the market, health + longevity were at all-time highs, unemployment at all-time lows and really no reason for fear... Yet we were drowning in fear.
My friends, as we are inundated with fear-driven headlines + media coverage about the coronavirus, Gregg once again reminds us that the world is better than it looks.
Today's conversation is packed with reassuring fact-based optimism that will inspire a positive perspective during today's pandemic... and whatever challenges tomorrow may bring.
SHOW NOTES:
- Pollution, discrimination, rate of heart disease + cancer are trending down. Life expectancy, education, living standards, middle-class income, human freedom are trending up.
- "Being an optimistic is not being a Pollyanna. A Pollyanna believes there are no problems. An optimist believes that problems can be solved."
- "I’m optimistic that we can fix the coronavirus and whatever problem comes after it.”
- As Gregg is doing his part to defeat the coronavirus, he remains optimistic by looking at the recent history of similar problems and their outcomes.
- The further you look back in history, the more optimistic you become that the current strategies will work. Gregg recalls 1968's devastating Hong Kong Flu and notes that none of the public health steps that are being taken today were taken then.
- "The stock market is going to take care of itself. Every past big decline in the stock market including in 1929 has corrected itself and became a gain within 1-2 years."
- Listen to my January 2019 conversation with Gregg Easterbrook on Live Inspired Podcast ep. 121 here.
- Get Gregg Easterbrook’s book It’s Better Than It Looks: Reasons for Optimism in an Age of Fear.
To help combat fear, isolation and other uncertainty around coronavirus, I created a 21-day challenge to inspire our community to focus on what they can control and to remain ferociously optimistic that their best remains ahead. Sign up for the IN AWE 21-Day Challenge here.
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Pre-order your copy of IN AWE today to receive access to fun, interactive bonus features emailed to you in the lead-up to the book’s release! Visit ReadInAwe.com.
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Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Desperate, despondent, forlorn, hopelessness, agony, distress, pain, misery, woe, pessimism, resignation. |
| 0:15.0 | These are all some descriptors, my friend, when I asked some colleagues of mine how they feel about where things are |
| 0:22.8 | and where things are trending. And yet, I think as we look east and we watch the sunrise today, |
| 0:28.8 | we recognize it is far from perfect. There are a lot of unknowns. There is a lot of uncertainty. |
| 0:36.3 | There is a lot of headwind blowing toward us. |
| 0:39.7 | And the foundation of our lives remain firm and the best of them remains in front of us to |
| 0:44.6 | ensure that you step into that and that you step into it both unafraid and also no longer on |
| 0:51.8 | your own. I wanted to invite you today right now, |
| 0:54.3 | this moment, into our 21 day in awe challenge. |
| 0:59.5 | I've created these with help of my team |
| 1:01.4 | to make sure that as headwind blows |
| 1:04.5 | and anxiety rises and markets fall and challenges mouth |
| 1:08.2 | that you recognize it is not easy, |
| 1:10.4 | but it is possible that you've been |
| 1:11.9 | called and anointed into days like this, that you are ready for it and that you are unalone. |
| 1:16.2 | So my friends, let's go. |
| 1:17.6 | Roll up those sleeves right now. |
| 1:19.0 | Let your fingers do the walk and join me at readinaw.com. |
| 1:24.5 | Let me say it again because I want to make sure you join me there. |
| 1:30.7 | Readinaw.com at the very top of that page is a link to join me in the 21 day challenge. It will spark meaning, hope, and |
| 1:37.9 | inspiration in your journey regardless of what we face today. My friends, the best is yet to come. |
| 1:43.4 | It may take us a little while to get there, but the best is yet to come. It may take us a little while to get there, |
... |
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