Persuasion 161 | Hopeful Thinking, with Laura Turner

Keeping our minds in a hopeful state is a real challenge in this world of uncertainty. Anxious thoughts chase us down at every turn. We feel pressure to keep up with others, as we’re plagued by feelings of inadequacy and doubt. We strive for more of everything, as we’re haunted by a sense that nothing is ever quite “enough.” It fuels great undercurrents of anxiety that rage just below the surface of our thinking. This stress shapes our mental frames, predisposing us to see life as a survivalist end game that’s anything but hopeful.

In this episode of Persuasion, Erin Straza and Hannah Anderson continue their Ready, Set, Think! series by inviting Laura Turner to the conversation. Laura is a freelance journalist covering religion and politics for outlets such as BuzzFeed, the Atlantic, and Politico, and she is currently writing a book about the cultural history of anxiety. Discussion for this episode covers the way that anxiety affects our thinking and decision making, how time scarcity infects our professional and personal pursuits, and why anxiety can actually be an entry point for God’s grace and power. Is it possible to move through life without anxiety dictating our every step? How would our thinking change if we could move from a scarcity mentality to one of abundance? What role does humility play in diffusing anxiety’s power? Is it possible to live with hopeful thinking? Listen in for dialogue on issues like these, and continue the conversation on Twitter @PersuasionCAPC or in the CAPC members-only community on Facebook.

HOSTS

Erin Straza: Web / Twitter
Hannah Anderson: Web / Twitter

PERSUASION PODCAST

PersuasionPodcast.buzz
Twitter: @PersuasionCAPC
Instagram: @PersuasionCAPC
Facebook: /Persuasioncapc

Persuasion 161 Resources & Links

Laura Turner: Web / Twitter

“How Twitter Fuels Anxiety,” Laura Turner, The Atlantic
“When National Turmoil Becomes Personal Anxiety,” Laura Turner, The Atlantic

“How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation,” BuzzFeed

Did you enjoy this episode of Persuasion? Give these a listen:

Persuasion 156 | Thinking It Through

Persuasion 157 | Thinking Twice, with Jen Pollock Michel

Persuasion 158 | Good Thinking

Persuasion 159 | Thinking Creatively

Persuasion 160 | Thinking Together

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