Overcoming pessimism through action
Today’s topic is pessimism, which can be defined as a lack of hope or confidence in the future. At different times in our lives, all of us might experience pessimism, especially if our future is uncertain or we find ourselves in a situation where the odds seem stacked against us. This can be compounded by societal conflicts and current affairs, and increasingly, teens and young adults feel a sense of worry, anxiety or futility about the future. Today, we'll unpack the Buddhist perspective on optimism. Our guest is Stuart Adams, a firefighter in California who shares the story of how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo helped him transform pessimism into a life of confidence and action.
CHEAT SHEET
1:47 Why Stewart started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
6:17 How he discovered his dream to become a firefighter
9:56 What it took to challenge his fear
16:52 What faith means in Buddhism
23:32 How chanting helped him take initiative
32:05 Addressing mistakes without hesitation
36:33 The role of Buddhist friends
40:28 The Buddhist perspective on optimism
45:53 Advice for anyone who struggles with pessimism
View all episodes
4.9
534534 ratings
Today’s topic is pessimism, which can be defined as a lack of hope or confidence in the future. At different times in our lives, all of us might experience pessimism, especially if our future is uncertain or we find ourselves in a situation where the odds seem stacked against us. This can be compounded by societal conflicts and current affairs, and increasingly, teens and young adults feel a sense of worry, anxiety or futility about the future. Today, we'll unpack the Buddhist perspective on optimism. Our guest is Stuart Adams, a firefighter in California who shares the story of how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo helped him transform pessimism into a life of confidence and action.
CHEAT SHEET
1:47 Why Stewart started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
6:17 How he discovered his dream to become a firefighter
9:56 What it took to challenge his fear
16:52 What faith means in Buddhism
23:32 How chanting helped him take initiative
32:05 Addressing mistakes without hesitation
36:33 The role of Buddhist friends
40:28 The Buddhist perspective on optimism
45:53 Advice for anyone who struggles with pessimism
More shows like Buddhability
View allTara Brach
10,204 Listeners
The Moth
27,203 Listeners
Sounds True: Insights at the Edge
1,782 Listeners
Alt.Latino
638 Listeners
Tricycle Talks
316 Listeners
Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg
652 Listeners
Hidden Brain
43,264 Listeners
Secular Buddhism
2,544 Listeners
Untangle
791 Listeners
10% Happier with Dan Harris
12,372 Listeners
Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson
2,246 Listeners
Buddhist Solutions for Life's Problems
1,152 Listeners
Meditative Story
3,023 Listeners
The Lion’s Roar Podcast
239 Listeners
The Way Out Is In
1,102 Listeners