“Hope is the feeling we have that the feeling we have is not permanent.” ~Mignon McLaughlin

What an interesting perspective on hope.  I had to read this a few times before internalizing its message.  What I decided is that the heart of this argument is that hope is our weapon against anxiety.  We all feel anxious at times.  We worry about so many things, most of which will never come to fruition.  But at the height of anxiety, it is often hard to take a step back and think logically about our situation.  It takes extreme focus and introspection to look past the fear and recognize it for what it is.  It takes practice (and age) to be able to do so effectively.  I’m not always good at it.  Sometimes, I can recognize that I’m feeling anxious and still am unable to pull myself out.

I’ll admit that the occasions on which I cave in to my anxiety usually end in ugly crying.  Does it help? Nope. So, after self-imposed dehydration, I have to do something different.  That something often turns out to be hope.  I hope for a change in the situation; I hope that whatever I’m afraid will happen doesn’t; I hope to feel happier, better, less scared, etc.

So is Ms. McLaughlin correct?  Or is hope something stronger than just a battle against anxiety?  I “hope” so.  I think that hope can be a powerful tool, but only when it is used in cooperation with action.  I’ve found that just hoping isn’t enough.  Hope exists in my mind (and heart?), but it can’t just live there.  For hope to actually be of help to us, we have to act upon it. I can hope for a healthier body, but if I don’t eat right and get regular exercise, all of my hopes will be dashed.  I can hope for a better job, but if I don’t do some research, get appropriate education or training and take advantage of every opportunity to apply to other jobs, all the hope in the world won’t put me there.

Does that mean that hope is actually hopeless?  Of course not, but I do think it means that we are the instruments that turn hope into reality.  So, what are you currently hoping for?  Are your “hopes” stored in neurons, or are you actively working to make them happen? It can be difficult and even frightening to take the step from hope to action, but please do.  You are worth the hard work.  The hopes and desires you hold are meaningful and, I believe, attainable as long as you are willing to work for them. 

Today, let’s all get to work combining hope with effort.  The results are sure to be amazing!

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