Hope has the potential to shape our lives in profound ways.
Provide a spark that ignites our dreams.
Motivate us to overcome adversity.
Fuel our journey towards a brighter future.
“A rainbow is a prism that sends shards of multicolored light in various directions. It lifts our spirits and makes us think of what is possible. Hope is the same – a personal rainbow of the mind.”
Charles Snyder
In a world filled with uncertainty and challenges, hope is more important than ever.
Hope is a complex emotion AND a process.
Charles Snyder developed the Hope Theory made up of three elements:
- Goals – Thinking in a goal-oriented way is at the center of Hope Theory. We need to identify the change we want to make or the shift we want to see in the world. This starts with a focused goal and vision that can be communicated.
- Pathways – Planning different ways to achieve your goals. Pathways thinking involves problem-solving, creativity, and adaptability. Perseverance & resilience are central to making progress. When we encounter obstacles, we find new ways to move the vision forward.
- Agency – Believing that we can instigate change. This is our belief in our own ability to pursue and achieve goals. The confidence that we have the skills, determination, and self-control to continue the pursuit of the goals over the long term.
My Perspective
The concept of Hope Theory resonates deeply with me.
The perspective that hope is not a passive state but an active force and process.
This can empower us to create lives filled with optimism, purpose, and fulfillment.
However, as stated above – hope is an active process.
We can’t sit back and “hope” something happens.
We need to do the work.
Identify the changes we seek – in our personal life….in our family…our neighborhood…the world.
Determine the possible pathways to get there.
Break down our aspirations into smaller, manageable steps.
Continue to pursue, even when we encounter setbacks.
Your Turn
What changes do you seek?
What are some possible pathways?
Do you have the agency to begin the journey?