Moving From Despair To Hope

My Reflection After Seeing the Film, The Correspondent

On 31 March 2025, I attended the Q&A and Special Introduction preview screening of the the film, The Correspondent.

Based on the true story of Australian war correspondent Peter Greste's imprisonment in Egypt in 2013. Staring the Australian actor Richard Roxburgh who plays Peter Greste.

I share my reflections on the film's central issue of injustice and how Peter moves constantly between despair and hope.

I talk about what psychologist Martin Seligman and neuroscientist Steven Maier discovered called the "hope circuit" in the brain. They highlight that optimism can be learned. Pessimism and helplessness are default responses to stress, but by practicing optimism, we can "light up" this hope circuit in the medial prefrontal cortex.

How to practise hope and optimism

Optimism is a skill that can be learned. Try noticing your explanations when things go wrong. Are you telling yourself the problem is permanent, personal and affects everything? Gently challenge those thoughts and look for evidence that the situation is temporary and within your influence.

Small actions also help. Setting achievable goals, focusing on what you can control and noticing moments of progress all strengthen a sense of agency. If despair or hopelessness are affecting your daily life, talking with a psychologist can help you find your way forward.

Franco Greco

Your Psychologist Elsternwick

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