Hope was the only thing left in Pandora’s Box once all the bad stuff flew away. It was hope that things could get better. Hope is about the future not yet realized, which implicates innovation. Hope is related to “help,” since creating something that doesn’t exist is best achieved with teams and partners. Hope involves what is possible and realistic, as opposed to fantasy. When hope links with courage, there is knowledge that possible solutions exist. On the other hand, when a situation is truly absent hope, no amount of courage leads to action. Dante’s inferno gate warned, “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.” We have good reason for hope when we lead as Lao-Tzu suggested about 500 B.C., “The highest type of ruler is one of whose existence the people are barely aware. Next comes one whom they love and praise. Next comes one whom they fear. Next comes one whom they despise and defy. When you are lacking in faith, others will be unfaithful to you. The Sage is self-effacing and scanty of words. When his task is accomplished and things have been completed, all the people say, we ourselves have achieved it!”
Hope increases when we learn to focus on what we have rather than what we don’t. Optimism based in reality helps us cope with our circumstances. We are clear eyed about our fate and are grateful for the situation in which we find ourselves. Evaluate the degree you demonstrate hope by rating yourself on these five statements:
- I express gratitude toward others in a disciplined way.
- I strive to replace fear of failure with hope for innovation, intelligent risk taking and speaking up about ethical issues.
- I recognize my potential for growth is greatest when I face adversity.
- I work with people to set purposeful and realistic goals.
- I actively strive to seek benefits rather than find fault.
