I think I’ve been using the word “hope” wrong. I often use it interchangeably with “wish.” As in, “I hope you have a safe trip.”
Researcher and author, Brené Brown, describes hope as a cognitive process:
“But hope is not what most of us think it is. It’s not a warm, fuzzy emotion that fills us with a sense of possibility. Hope is a way of thinking – a cognitive process. Yes, emotions play a role, but hope is made up of what researcher, C.R. Snyder called a “trilogy of goals, pathways, and agency.”
Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown
When broken up that way, hope becomes more tangible to me. I have hope that my webinar on how to automate the creativity/ideation process goes well today. It’s a realistic goal. I have spent time breaking it down into its requisite parts. And I have practiced enough to believe I can do it.
It makes me look at the hope I’m feeling when I see signs of Spring all around me from a different lens.
The longer days give my more energy to set goals for travel and adventure. Even if it just means more walks with my kids after dinner.
Seeing the new life abound, especially ducklings and goslings, and little glimpses into the fledgling attempts to jump in to deep waters and navigate the world reminds me of how hard all this living and learning can be.
Witnessing the beautiful blooms break ground after time in the dark sparks so much resonance in me. I see the flow of life through both dark and light times.
Somehow I find the idea of hope as a cognitive process to be incredibly reassuring. Because we can learn hope from those around us – and from the beautiful signs of Spring.
May you find Hope within and around you!
(all photos in the post are mine)
I’ve posted a related piece on my personal blog: Faith in Foxholes
My other projects include hosting a podcast that features inspirational creatives and being part of a team that teaches/speaks about corporate creativity. My book about my journey to find what fueled my dad’s indelible spark and twinkle can be found on Amazon: Finding My Father’s Faith.
You can find me on Instagram and Twitter @wynneleon