We recently read an article from aeon.com titled Hope is Not Optimism, written by David B Feldman and Benjamin W Corn, and felt compelled to share a few key takeaways with our sphere. Let’s dive right in!

Ignoring people’s need for hope to avoid an anticipated outcome won’t make it go away.

In the article, the authors profile Dr. Tamika, who was debating how to share a tough pancreatic cancer diagnosis with her 47-year-old patient Melanie, a partner at a top civil engineering firm in Boston. Dr. Tamika acknowledged her patient’s chance of long-term survival was slim and grappled with the idea that talking about her goals might lead to false hope and ultimately despair. However, there is now a new body of research in psychology that encompasses a broader understanding of hope, one which helps us all accept and include difficult truths in conversations.

“Hope is not wishful thinking, optimism, or ‘the power of positive thinking.’”

Contrary to popular belief, each of us can apply hopefulness to any situation, regardless of how full or empty our glass is. This thought process encourages us to live in the present moment without denying that suffering and pain are also present. This is referred to as “grounded hope.”

“When people have hope, their goals are more likely to become reality.”

This has actually been researched and the study was published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology in 2009. The key takeaway is that you don’t need to see the world through rose-colored glasses to experience hope. When you have a goal that’s important to you and feasible in your eyes, you’re more likely to take steps to achieve it.

“Active hope is the psychological engine that drives efforts to bring about important goals”

Regardless of the mountains (AKA challenges or opponents), you have left to climb, you never have to give up your hope. Instead, look for things you can set in motion, things that you believe in that will help move you towards your goals.

If you would like to read more, we invite you to access the full article here. Happy reading!