Hope

One of our greatest gifts is HOPE, for with it, all things are possible. Without it, nothing is possible. The survival of Nelson Mandela and the victory of Mahatma Gandhi are dramatic examples of the power of hope. Despite their ordeals, both nurtured hope in their hearts, and in return hope sustained them.

Before continuing, let us define hope. It is the feeling that we will eventually get what we want or need. Or that in the long run everything will turn out for the best, even if the final outcome is not what we want at the  time. Hope requires faith and trust in life, oneself, and others, and is the opposite of fear, anxiety, and despair. It also leads to positive expectations.

What do you believe the future holds in store for you? Do you expect it to be bright or gloomy? Regardless of your expectation, you may be right or you may be wrong. Since you cannot predict the future, you can only take a guess. Although we cannot know the future, we can predict the outcome of your guess. For if you believe your future will be gloomy, you will become anxious, unhappy, and less motivated. On the other hand, if you expect a bright future, you will be confident, enthusiastic, and happy.

As we cannot predict the future, we can only guess at the outcome. And that guess is a choice we make. Choosing to be hopeful is practical because it will free us of unnecessary suffering. And even if our guess turns out to be wrong and disaster strikes, we will be much better prepared to deal with it. For those who expect a tragedy grow so weary that by the time it comes they are completely drained of energy and incapable of taking constructive action.

To deliberately choose despair over hope is foolhardy. Moreover, hope not only makes our journey much more pleasant, but may even guarantee our success. Especially when it is combined with action. That is, besides expecting a successful outcome, do everything in your power to make it happen and look for evidence that you are approaching your goal. At the same time, stop doing whatever is counterproductive. When you combine the power of hope with that of action, you will have good reason to H.ave O.nly P.ositive E.xpectations (H.O.P.E.). 

Are dark clouds looming over your life? If so, it does not necessarily follow that a storm is approaching. However, even if today were to be your darkest day, the tempest will pass if you wait it out. That is why you must keep the flame of hope burning in your heart. Storms may rage, but do not let them extinguish hope.

While in his fifties, Tom had a heart attack. He looked death in the face for the first time and found the experience depressing. He grew lethargic and life came to a halt. It was almost as if he were already dead. But with a little encouragement, he rekindled the flame of hope, hope for a better life, for a return to normal. So, re-energized, he stopped smoking, changed his eating habits, and exercised regularly. Today, Tom is once again enjoying life.

Does this simple example not prove that hope is always a better choice than despair? Of all the forces that make for a better world, none is so indispensable, so powerful, as hope. Without hope people are only half alive. With hope they dream and think and work. Men and women are not limited by the place of their birth, nor by the color of their skin.  The people who succeed best in life always seem to be more cheerful and hopeful. They go about their business with a smile on their faces; and accept the changes and chances of this mortal life with courage facing rough and smooth alike as it comes.


In August 1943, torpedo boat PT-109 was rammed and cut in half by a Japanese destroyer during a night attack in the Solomon Islands. The commander of the boat, John F. Kennedy, was thrown to the deck. His back, previously injured in a university football game, was re-injured. Despite this, he gathered the ten surviving members of his crew. After placing a badly injured crew member into a life jacket, Kennedy held on to one of the straps with his teeth and towed the wounded man as they all swam for shore. Five hours later, they reached land and were able to rest, but could find no help. It was only after swimming to two other islands that they found natives with access to the U.S. base. They were rescued after a native delivered a message written by Kennedy on a coconut. The situation seemed hopeless, but because Kennedy clung onto hope he found the strength to lead his crew members to safety.
The Many Benefits of Hope

1. The difference between living with hope and living in fear is like the difference between the life of a hero and the life of a coward. Those who live in fear, refuse to take risks, and wind up settling for a life of mediocrity. But those who live with hope, boldly go where their dreams take them, and experience a life of adventure. Is there any question which is the superior choice? I think you will agree, it has never been, and never will be, easy work! But the road that is built in hope is more pleasant to the traveler than the road built in despair, even though they both lead to the same destination.

2. Life is synonymous with change. So, any pain or fear that we are experiencing will end, which is a cause to be hopeful. Every area of trouble gives out a ray of hope, and the one unchangeable certainty is that nothing is certain or unchangeable .Hope is the feeling that what you are experiencing right now is not permanent.

3. To live with hope is to be awake or, in the words of Aristotle, “Hope is the dream of a waking man.” On the other hand, to live without hope is to cease to live. Anyone who is among the living has hope — even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!”
One cannot be awake or aware and not be hopeful and joyful, for ignorance means the capacity to ignore. You must be ignoring the birds, the trees, the flowers, the people. Otherwise, life is tremendously beautiful, so absurdly beautiful, that if you can see it as it is you will never stop laughing. You will go on giggling — at least inside.
4. Hope sustains us. It provides us with the strength to look for solutions and do whatever is possible or accept what cannot be changed. It helps us to weather the storm in a sea of uncertainty, and its optimism acts as a self-fulfilling prophecy, washing away problems.

5. Hope is the best possession. None are completely wretched except those who are without hope. Once we live with hope, we will be in a position to give it away to others. There is hardly anything better that we can do for others.

6. Hope is the fuel for action. When we are filled with hope we have a reason to act. But No hope means no action.

7. Hope is the star that points the way to the path of growth, for we grow not by darting from pleasure to pleasure, but from hope to hope.

8. He who does not hope to win has already lost. Those who live with hope win because the hopeful person sees success where others see failure, sunshine where others see shadows and storm.

9. Patience is a key to success and only the hopeful are patient. Anne Frank  wrote in her diary, “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” No, we need not wait to give away the gift of hope. When we give hope to others, we are performing a valuable service, for hope and patience are two cures for all that ails us. But before we can give hope to others, we have to have it ourselves. So, how do we cultivate hope?

Cultivating Hope
Plan A
1. Eat balanced meals, drink plenty of water, get sufficient sleep, and exercise regularly. Poor health leads to burnout and energy depletion. Sound physical health is a key component of sound mental and emotional health.
2. Eliminate negative self-talk by focusing on the positive.
3 .Have high expectations. It is not what you deserve that counts, but what you expect.

4. Forget the past and focus on the future. You do not make progress while you are looking back.
5. Building on your strengths is more important than improving your weaknesses.
6. View ‘problems’ as challenges and look for solutions rather than reasons to quit.
7. If you get stuck, look for help.
8. Persist. Keep at it until you succeed.
Plan BBoth hope and hopelessness can be learned. To learn how to be hopeful, follow these steps.
1. Set goals to have something to be excited about. Stretch yourself, but do not  overreach.

2. Make a plan, listing all the steps you need to take to reach your goal.

3. Work your plan. That is, set target dates for each step and follow through.

4. Persist. Do not stop working at it until you reach your goal.

Plan CAsk yourself, and act upon, the following questions:
What excites me?
What might be?
How can it be?
What will be?
What is already working and how can I build on it?

To read the complete article go to http://www.personal-development.com/chuck/hopes-
shape-future.htm

ttps://app.getresponse.com/site/crazidreams_782986/webform.html?wid=12205803&u=BSuYO&mg_param3=4