We think we need more time, more quiet, more focus, more creativity, more success, more support… I think all of these desires are making too much noise in our minds. The truth is, we need more hope.
In her book, The Gifts of Imperfection, Brene Brown states, “Hope is not an emotion; it’s a way of thinking or a cognitive process.” She goes on to explain that hope is the practice of believing that situations can improve, that people can grow, deepen and develop, and most importantly, that we each have the power to make decisions to bring about change in our lives.
When we make a practice of waking up every day and tuning into the mental channel that reminds of us everything we don’t have– time, money, food in the pantry, that new pair of fall boots that are just beyond our budget–we begin to lose sight of the fact that our decisions hold great power. When we make a practice of putting on our favorite pair of shoes that we do have, of taking the five minutes we do have to listen to a song we love, or spending the $3.99 we can afford on a basket of fresh raspberries, our perspective begins to change. It’s not that what we’ve been telling ourselves isn’t true. No one has enough time, money or the exact right foods in their pantry at any given time. However, the fact of the matter is, our perspective matters. It matters because our perspective affects our decisions, and our tiny decisions affect our outlook, and our outlook affects what we send out into the world in every interaction.
Consider this: I’m feeling tired, sluggish and not the tiniest bit creative after an exhausting day in which I’ve reminded myself of everything I don’t have. I get home early, and realize I have about a half-hour before anyone else will get home. All day long, I’ve been bemoaning the fact that I never have any time to simply sketch. Now, when the window of time appears, I sink onto the couch and put up my feet. My head hurts too badly to draw anyway.
Now, same day. I get home feeling tired, sluggish and not creative, but instead of exhausting my mental energy all day on the endless tirade about everything I lack, I’ve spent my time thinking about what I’d like to sketch, when I have a minute. Even though I’m tired, I have an idea, and I open my sketchbook. When my family gets home, I am refreshed and happy to see them.
I’m the last person to think that people ought to just “think-positive.” I have always distrusted this approach to life because I really just can’t stand lying to myself. I’m not talking about lying here, though. I’m talking about practicing hope in the small moments because it pays off in the big ones.
I’ve been witnessing my adult students making this amazing journey… the journey from stuck to hopefulness. I see the power of it in their lives, and I’m inspired by their courage. Practicing hope takes courage because it requires vulnerability. Skepticism and doubt is an armor behind which most of us hide. Thus, opening up to possibilities, even when we know they won’t always work out, is hugely courageous. I’m impressed with what I’ve witnessed, inspired to continue practicing hope in my own life, and encourage you to practice it in your life, too. You never know what might come of your risktaking, and isn’t the adventure worth it?
