Kamen works as a lifestyle management consultant who explores the art and science of happiness as a speaker, author, and positive psychology expert. Through her globally syndicated podcast, books, media appearances, and documentary film, Lisa has impacted millions of people around the world.

LISA CYPERS KAMEN

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From Happiness to Hopefulness

Original Air Date Wednesday, April 26, 2023.

How would you define the American Dream? For some, it means hard work pays off, and for others, it represents a period of time in their lives. Some believe that time has come to a close. What makes different groups perceive things differently?

To find out how culture impacts people’s perception of success and what hope has to do with it, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Leo Pasvolsky Senior Fellow at Brookings, College Park Professor at the University of Maryland, and a Gallup Senior Scientist, Carol Graham.

Carol shares the research that supports her book The Power of Hope: How the Science of Well-Being Can Save Us From Despair. Her findings encompass the hopefulness of minority groups, how the political polarization in the US has led to increased despair, and why money doesn’t increase happiness or hopefulness.

Tune in:

Lisa Cypers Kamen · From Happiness to Hopefulness with Carol Graham PhD

Meet Our Guest:

Carol Graham is a Leo Pasvolsky Senior Fellow at Brookings, a College Park Professor at the University of Maryland, and a Gallup Senior Scientist. She served on a National Academy of Sciences panel on well-being metrics in 2012-13, received Pioneer Awards from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in 2017 and 2021, and a Lifetime Distinguished Scholar award from the International Society of Quality of Life Studies (2018). She has served as a Vice President at Brookings, as Special Advisor to the Inter-American Development Bank, Visiting Fellow at the World Bank, and consultant to the IMF.

Book: The Power of Hope: How the Science of Well-Being Can Save Us From Despair

Carol Graham PhD — From Happiness to Hopefulness:

Why does it seem there is more hopelessness on a local and global level? {2:02}
Carol explains how different groups view the ‘American Dream’ and how it changes their perception of success. {6:08}
How having a community of empathy affects the well-being of those who have it versus those who don’t. {10:18}
Why affluence stifles hopefulness. {14:29}
Carol describes how the political polarization in the US has affected hopefulness. {17:17}
The science of well-being shows that hope gives humans agency. {21:36}

Follow Carol Graham PhD:

Shareables:

“People value losses disproportionately to gains.” @cgbrookings on @HHTalkRadio Click To Tweet “There is a positive bias in the way Latin Americans see the world.” @cgbrookings on @HHTalkRadio Click To Tweet “Low-income African Americans are the most optimistic and hopeful by far.” @cgbrookings on @HHTalkRadio Click To Tweet “Of all the things we measure, hope has the most agentic qualities.” @cgbrookings on @HHTalkRadio Click To Tweet

Grab More Joy Below:

Are We Happy Yet? Eight Keys to Unlocking a Joyful Life — A boot camp manual for greater emotional fitness. Happiness waits for no one and sometimes we all need support. What is getting in the way of your happiness right now?

H–Factor: Where is Your Heart? — Lisa’s documentary film explores the journey of human happiness. Emotions are contagious and happiness is a universally desired state. We tend to forget we all have the freedom to be happy or the liberty to be miserable each day.