When we center our expectations on something, we experience hope, and that is one powerful emotion. Your hope is like a wish for something to happen.
Choosing hope over fear drives you to action, believing that a better world is possible. Choosing fear holds you back, keeps you from taking action, creates stagnation.
So really, hope is about potential, the ability to see what is possible.
Hope is not the same as optimism. It doesn’t mean your are naïve, or a Pollyanna, that everything is rainbows and butterflies. Hope is more like realism, recognizing and accepting that there are challenges and obstacles in your life, and working towards the best possible outcome.
It can be difficult to feel hopeful right now, so let’s just acknowledge that. The world is in the midst of challenges the likes of which has not been seen in generations. So accept that and know that being hopeful doesn’t mean you have to delude yourself into thinking everything is just fine.
It also doesn’t mean that you have complete control over all situations, and this much as become very apparent. It does mean that you can control your response to the situations.
You can cultivate hope by simply becoming aware, mindful of when hope arises. Recognize hope when it happens in your life:
Hope plants a seed.
Whenever you yearn for something, having hope is an implication that it could actually occur. Hope can germinate into a whole new existence. Your life’s journey can be enhanced simply by having hope.
In order to feel hopeful, honesty is required.
We’ve all experienced times when we were fooling ourselves about something, such as a relationship or work situation. But to have hope, we’re forced to be honest about what we’ve done to create the challenge. Only if you tell yourself the truth about a trying situation can you proceed ahead and experience hope.
Hope produces a “can do” spirit.
If you want to see change, the hope that change is possible spurs you to action. Ask yourself, “What can I do?” Hope cultivates a personal sense of responsibility and ownership. Only then do you have the power to convince yourself that you can truly affect change.
Hope often leads you to the answer.
If you have hope that a difficult issue can be resolved, you begin to think of all the ways of figuring out that resolution. Before you know it, you’ve hit on something that might help the situation.
Hope cultivates your imagination.
Creativity and imagination are necessary when you’re hoping for something to grow or change in a positive way. You stretch yourself by considering resolutions you hadn’t considered before.
Hope enhances your personal commitment to the issue at hand.
When you’ve thought enough about a vexing challenge, you’re likely committed to overcoming that challenge. Personal commitment sets you up to sharpen your focus and find a way to create the end result you desire.
Hope springs from within you.
The purest form of strength and power in your life emerges solely from within you. Only your own thoughts and desires are needed. Hope is free and available to you at any time you wish to tap into it.
Hope allows you to accept and forgive others.
Many times, the path you seek can only be paved by your complete acceptance of others and your ability to forgive them. We’ll all be exposed to those who annoy or bewilder us. And unfortunately, we’ll be hurt by the actions and words of others at some point or another. Having hope encourages us to move past these positions of powerlessness and discover the true strength of our character.
Possessing hope helps you to believe in yourself and others and to believe that anything is possible. The good life you deserve can be attained by striving to have hope. Let go of your self-doubt and negativity. Discover your power by embracing all the riches hope can deliver.
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