Hope gets us up in the morning and gives us the will to face another day despite its many uncertainties. And without some anchor of hope, despair eventually sets in.
Hope is far from mere wishful thinking or nice platitudes about a better tomorrow. It’s essential for daily living.
It reminds us of what’s possible and keeps ever before us the potential of what can be.
For instance, we apply to jobs, pursue relationships, start projects and the like with some glimmer of hope that what we desire can actually be accomplished.
These are not endeavors we would even consider starting if we were truly hopeless.
And it takes hope to continue as well – to keep showing up and trusting the work matters even when we face difficult days.
When the stories we tell ourselves consistently paint a grim forecast we lose the motivation to keep trying.
We soon grow complacent and focus on short-term pleasures rather than playing the long game.
Why work hard and try to improve things if it’s all hopeless in the end?
But hope gives us a different orientation to life – reminding us our present reality is not all there is and that, in fact, we’re on the way toward something better.
This hope gives us purpose, meaning, and a will to keep showing up.
We need hope to thrive and to have any chance at becoming better versions of ourselves.
But it’s something we must practice daily and surround ourselves by those who are also committed to keeping hope alive.
And perhaps this is part of how we become salt and light in a world of darkness and despair.
Don’t lose hope. It anchors the soul and gives us the will to keep fighting the good fight.
Photo by Ahmed Hasan on Unsplash
