Keep Having Hope

Given our theme this week, today we’ll be examining thoughts from the pros on the value of having hope, both in and out of the workplace. These experts provide methods for moving through your fears, skills you can develop more fully now and bring with you into any professional environment. Key components to maintaining a hopeful disposition include being willing to lean into the unknown. Check out what the pros below have to say on the best ways to do just that.

First up, we’re turning to Maria Hill at Lifehack for this tip on ways to develop a more hopeful life: “Hope requires a willingness to experiment to see what works and what doesn’t so it cannot see failure, only steps on a learning path. It does not fall for false optimism or empty promises. Living hopefully simply means taking care of your contribution and supporting the positive evolution of human life. Its motto is ‘Progress, not perfection.’ Hope is grounded in present reality. It does not sugarcoat. It thinks enough of our creativity to present us with real problems to solve not phony problems of overindulgence, status and social climbing – real problems like quality of life, the development of human potential, the well being of our environment and all human living systems.” Use these ideas to keep yourself motivated. You don’t have to be perfect–you just have to keep trying! If you’re stuck on a work task or having trouble transitioning to working remotely, know that it’s okay to encounter problems along the way. What matters the most is using the obstacle as an opportunity, as a chance to share your creativity with the world. You sharing both your difficulties and your triumphs will help remind all of those around you that they, too, can overcome whatever struggles are before them.

Chris Rackliffe at Thrive Global also has a great suggestion for how to keep carrying on: “Recognize your fear for what it is. We all experience fear. But not everyone recognizes it for what it is. In order to rise above the feeling of being afraid and into a higher energetic frequency like hope, you must identify and name it when it bubbles up within you. Then, instead of acting on that anxious, uncertain state, learn to simply say, ‘I’m feeling afraid right now, but I know it will pass.’ Like any emotional state, fear is only temporary and will not last if you learn to watch it instead of wallow in it. The most important thing you can do is not act upon your fear. Any action based in fear will always create more fear.” Not only is fear unavoidable–it’s perfectly normal. Know that you, your bosses, and your colleagues will all experience fear at some point, especially amidst these current, turbulent times. 

To chase those fears away for a bit–and to leave you on a hopeful note–you won’t want to miss today’s favorite destressing method: this video of kittens from the Atlanta Humane Society visiting the Georgia Aquarium. Featuring cute cats and colorful fishes, this sixty-second video is a surefire mood booster. We’ll see you back here tomorrow for even more ways to remain positive amidst these unprecedented circumstances with our Wednesday Wellness: Hope edition.

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