Hope is a force multiplier. It drives us to greater heights and impels us to persevere despite the obstacles in our way. It is the ability to see the light through darkness and drive on through pain to the promise of a brighter future.
Academic studies demonstrate the positive impact of hope. Carlos Laranjeira and Ana Querido, in an article published in the National Library of Medicine, quoted a large study that found that “a greater sense of hope was associated with better physical health and health behavior outcomes (e.g., reduced risk of all-cause mortality, fewer chronic conditions, and fewer sleep problems), higher psychological wellbeing (e.g., increased positive affect, life satisfaction, and purpose in life), lower psychological distress, and better social wellbeing.”
Many fictional and real-life stories also show the incredible power of hope. Think of Nelson Mandela, Rocky Balboa, Pope John Paul II, and JK Rowling, to name just four. To a lesser extent, I have seen the power of hope in my own life. Morbidly obese and pressing toward a work deadline that I thought might be out of reach, I was able to get back to my target weight and meet my project deadlines with the help of my friends and hope.
But hope is not easy, nor is it Pollyannish. Bishop Desmond Tutu got it right when he said, “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” It is not perpetual optimism, as some have said, but informed optimism that allows us to reflect on our mistakes and know that better days are coming, either in this life or the next.
How do you cultivate an environment of hope within yourself and the workplace? Here are five ways to be optimistic in the face of adversity.
Learn from Your Mistakes Without Dwelling on them.
One of my favorite TV shows is Ted Lasso (yeah, Season 4 is coming!) due to its underlying message of hope. For those who have not seen it yet, Ted Lasso is a D2 American football coach who takes over an English soccer team and leads them to victory. No one gives him a chance, but his optimism and belief in his team and himself bring him a championship despite many obstacles.
One of my favorite episodes in the show is when the newest soccer player from Nigeria, Sam, gets burned by the team star, Jamie. Ted tells Sam, after the play, that ‘he should be like a Goldfish, the happiest animal on earth because it has a ten-second memory.’ I cannot do the quote true justice, so here is a link to the top ten quotes from Ted Lasso. The Goldfish is No. 1 on the video, so you can skip to the 15-minute mark (or listen to the other nine).
Hopeful people do need to be like goldfish when it comes to the pain of mistakes. You should not get overwhelmed by mistakes and hardship. However, I would dare to do Ted Lasso one better with the quote. I advise, “Be a Goldfish with the pain, be an Elephant with the Gain.”
In every setback, there is a nugget of gold, a lesson that can propel you to your final goal. Therefore, when you get knocked down, pick yourself up and forget the mistake, but like an elephant who never forgets, remember the lesson. See the lesson as an opportunity to grow into the person you were meant to be.
Hope is about taking chances, learning from your mistakes, and not dwelling on them. NF rapped about Hope with one of the best definitions of the word. Here is a link to the song Hope, with compelling lyrics that drove me to my personal best on Peloton.
It’s a person who’ll take a chance on
Something they were told could never happen.
It’s a person that can see the bright side
Through the dark times when there ain’t one
It’s when someone who ain’t never had nothin’
Ain’t afraid to walk away from
More profit ’cause they’d rather do something
That they really love and take the pay cut – Excerpt from the Lyrics of Hope by NF (Nathan Feurestein)
Develop a vision board and visualize achieving it.
One of the main components of hope is a vision of the future where you become the person you should be. One way to give hope a nudge is to develop a vision board of what you will become. Below is the vision board that I created when I was at my most unhealthy weight and disposition.
For more information on developing a vision board and how to use it, please read my previous blog on the topic, which is located here.
Making a vision board is a start, but not enough. You should wake up every morning to your why and visualize how you will achieve the best version of yourself through meditation and prayer. A vision without visualization is an empty promise or a meandering dream. Focus each morning on how you will make that vision happen and reflect each evening on what steps you made to make your vision happen, no matter the size.
Positively affirm yourself and others.
You will inevitably have setbacks in becoming the best version of yourself. During these times of setback, you need to affirm yourself. One thing I do each day is write at least two “I am” affirmations in my Thankfulness Journal. Here is one from yesterday when I struggled and did not finish this blog and podcast. “I am an inventive and dynamic blogger and podcaster who helps others.” It reminded me of the progress that I have made in writing and spurred me on to finish this blog and podcast today.
Besides affirming yourself, you can help others by affirming their progress as they strive to become the best version of themselves. Take time to write a handwritten note to a friend that you see making progress. Or better yet, tell them over coffee or lunch. We are all trying to make it through this complex and confusing world. A few words of hope and encouragement help lighten the load and make you a better person.
Use Your Strengths and Understand Your Weaknesses.
Hopeful people rely on their strengths while still understanding their weaknesses. One of the best ways to understand your strengths is to take the Clifton Strengths Survey by Gallup. Why take a survey? For two reasons. First, we may think we know our strengths, but this scientific survey investigates 34 strength themes. You may have a hidden strength you are not leveraging or a weakness you are discounting. Second, when taken by team members, the survey can point out other people’s strengths that can counter your weaknesses and vice versa. A seemingly impossible team task suddenly becomes possible when you pool the team’s unique talents.
Hope Springs Eternal.
We move now to the spiritual aspect of hope. There is always room for hope, even if you get on in years like I am. Many people face hardships most of their lives only to go on to success later in life. A good example is Nelson Mandela, who was imprisoned much of his adult life only to become president of South Africa in 1994.
The obstacle or sickness in your way may be the launch pad for success in this life or the next. We may not always know why a hardship is set in our way. However, we can look for the value in sacrifice, even if we do not see the reason for it on this earthly plane.
To close, in his poem, “Essay of Man”, Alexander Pope writes,
“Hope springs eternal in the human breast;
Man never Is, but always To be blest.
The soul, uneasy, and confin’d from home,
Rests and expatiates in a life to come.”
Let hope spring eternally in your life so you can become the person you were meant to be!
