The Hope Habit EP 409

We often think of hope as a feeling, something we either have or we don’t. What if we think about hope as more of a habit? As a trait we can develop and a skill we can practice? That means we can reach for it anytime and that’s so helpful because hope is one of those things we need the most when we feel it the least.  What if we practice hope by taking action in the present. That doesn’t mean pretending everything is wonderful when it isn’t. It doesn’t mean ignoring our fears or convincing ourselves that nothing will go wrong. Hopeful action is much more honest than that. It’s acknowledging that I don’t know how this will turn out, but I’m going to do the next helpful thing and then see how I feel, or see what changes.  It might mean making the appointment, sending the email, asking for help, taking a walk, or trying one more time. Hopeful actions can be tiny steps. They don’t have to be big changes. In fact, every time we take one of those tiny steps, we remind ourselves that we’re not powerless. There is always something we can do. If you want to feel more hopeful, don’t wait for hope to arrive before you begin. Choose one action that supports the future you want. What can you do today? Can you find one little thing that you can do that will help you feel more hopeful? I know being passive often makes me feel powerless, and doing something helps me recognize that I’m not.  That’s how I work on building my hope habit.  One hopeful action at a time.