Is Negativity RUINING Your Health?

Are we really as DIVIDED as Online Hate would lead us to believe?

Have we got the episode for you, and just in time for a stressful U.S. Election Season!

Did you know that being a cynic might be doing serious damage to your body and mind? Dr. Jamil Zaki (Stanford psychology professor, Director of Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab, author of HOPE FOR CYNICS) is here to explain the shocking ways Negativity affects your Brain, how your TRUST ISSUES are messing with your Health, and proven methods to FIGHT OFF Negativity & BOOST Empathy!

He reveals practical tips for coping with political discourse, the HIDDEN DANGERS of raising kids in a fearful world, how the news, social media, and politicians use negativity to control us, and why cynicism kills creativity and how to revive it.

Dr. Zaki also breaks down:
- How our negative perceptions of people & the world can cause anxiety, depression & isolation
- Why cynics feel ‘smarter’ but suffer more
- The REAL reason cynicism and skepticism are NOT the same
- How negative thoughts could be physically warping your brain
- The dark side of mistrust in our institutions
- Which jobs should NEVER hire a cynic
- 3 eye-opening questions to spot if you’re a cynic
- Why teachers are especially prone to cynicism
- Why our perception of danger is skyrocketing even as crime drops
- The impact of global suffering on young minds
- Tips for teaching kids mindfulness to combat negativity

And just in case the idea of "blind optimism" makes you itchy, Dr. Zaki details the difference between "toxic positivity" and hopeful skepticism.

Don’t miss out on this eye-opening exploration of whether we’re a BROKEN SPECIES or just trapped in a BROKEN SYSTEM - TUNE IN to MBB today!

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CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
05:09 - Understanding Cynicism
12:09 - Mental & Physical Health Impacts of Negativity
19:14 - How Negativity Changes the Brain
23:04 - Cynicism vs Skepticism
31:01 - How Negativity Can Cause Anxiety, Depression & Isolation
36:14 - Dangers of Self-Fulfilling Prophecies
48:35 - Parenting: Preparing Kids for Reality
52:54 - Is the World Broken?
54:42 - Pop Quiz: Measuring Humankindness
1:00:20 - How Social Media Perpetuates Negativity
1:15:24 - Protecting Children from Negativity
1:22:56 - Hopeful Skepticism
1:25:49 - Practical Tips to Combat Political Polarization
1:38:22 - Strengthen Your Empathy Muscle
1:41:04 - Curiosity vs Judgment
1:42:54 - Strengthening Mirror Neurons
1:45:21 - Outro

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Find Dr. Jamil Zaki:
Website: https://www.jamil-zaki.com/
Twitter:   / zakijam  
Instagram:   / jamil_zaki_psych  

Dr. Jamil Zaki's new book, Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness: https://www.jamil-zaki.com/hope-for-c...

Theme Song Written, Produced, and Performed by Ed Robertson. Mixed by Kenny Luong.

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