On my third-grade report card, Mrs. Courtier typed “Enthusiastic” and “Optimistic.” My parents immediately pointed out these words, beamed with pride, and lavished me with praise.
I learned early that these were coveted qualities. Not surprisingly, I’ve been enthusiastic and optimistic my entire life. As psychologist Charles Carver describes my fellow optimists and me, we expect good things will happen in the future. But while optimism yields positivity, hope yields power. According to author Charles R. Snyder (The Psychology of Hope), hope is:
In other words, hope ignites plans and actions to achieve our desires. Yikes. Suddenly, optimism feels rather passive, like an entitled bystander. And hope feels exceptionally active, like an engaged player! When I reflect on past goals I’ve accomplished, hope beats optimism every time:
When we hope, we perceive possibility, even through adversity and uncertainty. And when we perceive possibility, we persist. Persistence demands action, not positivity. Want to be more resilient? Start with hope. While positivity is undoubtedly preferred over its opposite, it’s hope that breeds action, progress, and growth. There’s no need to abandon our optimism and enthusiasm provided we intentionally lean into hope when we want to accomplish anything significant in our life. Start with hope! © 2021. Ann Tardy and Mentor Lead. www.mentorlead.com | www.anntardy.com |