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I have always been reliant on hope. It is the reason I have gotten to this point in life with a continued zest for life. Thanks to hope, I know there is always something better to come. It may not be on this earth, but my faith assures me it will definitely be in the next life.
Hope is an optimistic state of mind based on an expectation of positive outcomes. It is expecting a good result with confidence so even when bad things happen, there remain embers to ignite something positive. Many times, the result isn’t what we would like, however, those are the times when remarkable personal growth and life turns are triggered.
I have a friend who always says, “Every day is a new adventure.” I always liked that phrase because it is laden with hope. No one knows what will befall us each day, however, looking forward to the day with that kind of attitude can initiate a better outcome. Enter in, “Always look on the bright side of life,” or “The power of a positive attitude.”
Bad things don’t just happen to good people, they happen to everyone. We are handed circumstances in life that we wouldn’t have wished upon others, but we need to be aware that we are never stuck in those circumstances or the fallout that ensues.
Experience has taught me that when something undesirable drops in my lap, I wait for the dust to settle and immediately flip into fix-it mode. No matter what, we always have choices and hope floats to the top – just like cream.
Hope is a crucial and an inherent aspect of being human. For some, hope is relied upon and for others it is seldom or never utilized until an experience impacts them to a point when all is lost but hope.
In recent years, bleak projections and stability of the United States have led to more hope. No matter who resides in the White House, we as citizens hope for a bright future for our country and passing down our free society to upcoming generations.
Hope matters especially when it comes to our vulnerability in the chaotic world in which we live because nothing is guaranteed. We can dread each day or oppose the dread with hope that circumstances can improve. Persistence in hope can make us realize there is at least as much good in the world as there is bad.
Greater degrees of hope are associated with improved coping, well-being and engagement in healthy behaviors. Hope is also a strong protection against depression and suicide. Among young people, hope is linked with health, self-esteem and a strong sense of purpose. With that, there is an essentialness for developing maturity and resilience.
Focusing on achieving milestones such as meeting new grandchildren, attending big life events (weddings, births, graduations, etc.) can be proven to steer remaining time towards serenity and the good in life, even under the most challenging circumstances.
Massive setbacks in life are times when hope for comfort or reprieve serves as a pathway to move from one stage to the next. Hope is an essential component of our well-being – even when it seems to be depleting.
Practicing gratitude is also essential and should be another focus to recount the positives in our lives. Little things like noticing the serenity when the sun comes out to play. As residents of this part of the world, we relish in the days of brightness after long, gray winters.
Gratitude in itself help us to envision ways to break away from our circumstances or change our attitude. We can look at the glass as half full rather than half empty. Embrace the choice to foster positivity even when there is very little or absence of it.
We are on this earth for such a short time. Time waits for no one. Hope gives us opportunities to look forward to what’s to come rather than lament over past experiences, mistakes and regrets.
Hope generates creative thinking and courage. Once hope has made its way into your life, there begins new life, coping mechanisms, mood improvement, and the ways to achieve betterment for yourself and those around you.
For those who like to decorate their walls with artwork of words, there are many to choose from in stores – both in person and online. I was given the idea of this column when I saw the word HOPE in an art piece in a store I recently visited. I guess I’m not the only one who sees the beauty in the word, but not just in seeing it, but also living with it on a daily basis.
I think hope inspires dreams and planning and without hope you are devoid of a stronger imagination, happiness, and success.
A wish is different than hope because wishes may not come true, but hope opens the door that it could. We hope for good health and enough money to do what we want. We often hope for others to recover from illness or bad circumstances.
The word HOPE appears in the Bible approximately 139 times depending on the translation. In Hebrews 6:19, Hope is described as an anchor for the soul. Hope symbolizes a firm and secure foundation that provides stability and assurance in difficult times. This hope connects believers to God’s presence and promises, which offer strength and encouragement.
Hope is like the biggest fluffy pillow to fall back on. It’s always there. It’s reliable, silent, comforting and is more important to me than water and food.
We must live for today and hope for tomorrow. My hope is for others to have the hope that I have. All that is left to say is I wish you, Hope Sweet Hope!
