A Coaching Power Tool created by Molly Todoran
(Career Coach, UNITED STATES)
Hope is a waking dream. Aristotle
Reading
All that we want and desire in life begins from the seed of hope. When we dig to the root of any of our goals, there hope lies. Hope gives us the encouragement to desire for more. It stands as our motivator to push forward even against the odds. It is a steadfast friend in the face of uncertainty.
When we live without hope, we live in a place of despair. Without hope, we do not believe we will see change. Without hope, we do not believe we will obtain our desires. Without hope, we do not believe for anything more than what our lives currently encompass. We are left to what feels like the menacing hand of fate. We are tossed about in the wind with fear of the unknown as a cold ally.
The lack of hope creates heaviness in our lives. We trudge through each day questioning our purpose and existence. Life moves slowly and painfully. Fear soon knocks on our door bringing with it a paralyzing carcinogen to our growth and happiness. With fear and despair as our masters, we are unable to create new experiences and accomplish our goals.
Self-Application
Imagine the last time you were told that your goal was impossible. There was no way you could or would achieve what you desire most. When you believe this lie, how did you feel? Was there a sense of heaviness or sadness? What words were coming from your mouth? Did you hear “I can’t”, “never will happen” or “impossible”? How were your interactions with others? How motivated were you to move in any direction other than your current course?
Now imagine a time in your life when you felt hope. You knew you could accomplish your goal. You knew you had the tools necessary to move you from point A to point B. How did you feel when living in hope? Were you energized or empowered? What words expelled from you lips? Were they “I can”, “Let’s do it”, “I can figure it out”? What were your interactions like with others? Did you take the necessary steps towards your goal?
Observe both situations. By reflecting on each circumstance in your life, did one reflection feel heavier than the other? Did you accomplish your goals when living in despair or in hope? Which setting would you prefer to live in?
Creating Hope
We may create hope by gathering information, creating new perspectives and researching testimonials of others.
Often times, we do not have hope because we lack information. We do not know the how. It is okay to not know how something is possible. That’s life. Think about when you chose your career. At the moment of your decision, did you know every single tiny step it would require to get to your first day of work? Did you know which assignments you would have to complete? Did you know how many chapters your professor would assign? Did you know which internship you would take? Did you how you were going to get the job at the end of your hard work? Most likely, the answer to these questions is “No”. Even though you didn’t know every detail, what happened? You figured it out along the way. With your goals, it is the same process. It is okay if you don’t know the how. You gather information along the path and figure out the next steps when you are ready.
We can create hope by changing our perspectives. To change our perspectives, we must choose to stop doubting the possibilities and believe in the possibility of the unknown. It is changing “I can’t” to “I can”. Instead of seeing an idea as impossible, we tell ourselves “There is always a solution.” It is changing an attitude of “Why bother?” to “Let’s try it and see what happens.”
We can create hope by reading success stories and testimonials. All of us are human, are we not? If we are all human, most likely, we all had to accomplish a goal. If we all had to accomplish a goal, then there will be at least another person out there that has struggled with hope.
Maintaining Hope
There are two major players that propel us to success: Patience and Discipline. Without these strong allies, it is easy to disregard our goals and throw in the towel. When we jaunt unsuccessfully towards the achievement of our goals, we quickly nosedive back into the tormenting sea of despair. Does this sound good to you? Me neither. Let’s see how our allies can support our success.
Patience is the foundation during a time of hard work and preparation. Patience gives us the grace to complete our tasks diligently as we build closer towards our goals. It is a driving force to keep us moving. It gives us understanding when we want to quit. Patience allows the flow of energy to move in the direction of our goals.