Optimism and Hope

I used to be afraid of optimism. Many times I’ve held onto this specific future for myself and when I didn’t get there, I consequently felt the burden of expectation and loss pull me down. Having been conditioned by these experiences, I learned to “be practical” and not hope for anything. More recently, however, I’ve learned that there is a power in just having hope, even if our ambitions are not fulfilled. Hope drives us when discipline and motivation fail, it gives our journeys meaning and fuels our lives in the darkest times. 

I’ve learned that it’s okay to not achieve the goals we have for ourselves because sometimes things are out of our control. Instead, focus on what you can control and strive courageously towards your ambitions in life, whatever they may be. And it’s okay to hope along the way. Let hope be your companion on your journey.

What’s your relationship with hope? What are the sources of hope in your life?