People are navigating stress, setbacks, and uncertainty by trying to control everything and doing it alone—which amplifies anxiety and drains performance.

Dr. Robyne’s work in this episode reframes hope as a trainable, practical skill (not “toxic optimism”), and gives listeners a grounded pathway to regain agency, build support, and move forward—especially when life feels wobbly.

In today’s conversation Robyne Hanley-Dafoe explores why hope is not the same thing as optimism—and why clinging to outcomes can backfire when life gets hard. She and Dr. Wells unpack “agency thinking” as the antidote to control spirals, then translate that mindset into practical micro-steps: get safe, get resourced, and choose the next right move.

You will learn how Dr. Robyne distinguishes hope from optimism and why that matters under pressure, how to replace control-chasing with agency, and how to use “pathway thinking” to identify one realistic next step instead of trying to solve everything at once. You’ll also learn her “get to the shore” approach for moments when you’re overwhelmed.

You will discover that hope is a skill you can practice to keep moving forward without needing perfect certainty or a guaranteed outcome.

This episode helps you break out of the loop of “I must fix this right now” and move toward a more proactive approach that is achievable and sustainable.