This very simple, but reassuring observation was made by the acclaimed movie actor, Christopher Reeve, best known for his very successful movie role of “Superman.” He made the statement in 1998, three years after he had sustained a devastating spinal injury caused by a fall during an equestrian competition. The unfortunate accident, which occurred in 1995, caused him to suffer a near-total paralysis from the neck down, including an almost complete dependence on artificial ventilation. His initial reaction in the aftermath of the injury was one of intense grief, self-pity, and hopelessness, with constant determined suicidal ideations. But, with the wonderful support of his wife, his despondent state gradually resolved, and he began to acquire feelings of hope that there was indeed much he could yet do with his life. So much so, that by 1998, he was beginning to develop a ‘full life’ with a busy schedule of writing, public speaking, film producing and spinal injury activism. Over time, he slowly developed increasing feelings of optimism, sustained by his increasing hope that one day a cure for spinal paralysis will be found. He, himself, described hope as:
“The power to believe in yourself, in spite of any of the many obstacles that may develop in your life.”
Hope is in fact, an inherently integral part of every human being, and serves to define how we see our future. It helps us to determine the kind of life we will like to have, and at the same time, point to the direction we should be choosing. Without hope, we all tend to fall victim to the many obstacles that form part of life, and will find it difficult to cope with their effect, or for that matter, find the basic motivation to change the direction to avoid them. It is the internal engine that constantly encourages us to search for a better life, instills in us the basic courage that it can be achieved, and gives us the confidence to believe that it will happen. In fact, without genuine hope, there can be no desire or trust that something better will occur, nor any confidence that the change we are expecting, will take place.
Hope is often described as an emotion that springs more from the heart than from the brain and is always available to help when the situation needs it. It is a belief that the circumstances will improve if we persist with it, and not, as many believe, just a wish for things to get better. It may remain dormant within us for a long time but will appear when there is need for it, and serves as the catalyst that will encourage the person to persist to completion. Whenever hope is lost, or displaced, it triggers a loss of confidence that will be felt in every aspect of life, and induce feeling of inadequacy and insecurity, and will interfere with the person’s ability to survive. Hope therefore, is the lifeblood for success, and as this quote by an Unknown Author so clearly suggests:
“When the world says give up, Hope whispers: “try just one more time.”
But hope must never be confused with optimism, for unlike the latter which is inevitably based on ‘desire’ rather than on fact, hope is always specific, focused, and strictly held within the bounds of reality. It is not be viewed as a passive expectation, but a dynamic process that includes the active pursuit of a goal, finding ways to reach it, and a feeling of confidence that with the right effort, it can be reached. In optimism, there is always an assumption, real or elusive, that the result will inevitably be positive, irrespective of the obstacles that may be present, but with hope, there is only a genuine desire to secure the change.
For hope to be meaningful, there must be an accompanying expectation of some improvement taking place. In many ways, being hopeful is looking beyond the present obstacles and difficulties, into a more positive future. Rather than be intimidated by the challenges ahead, it provides the vision to look for, and see the opportunities in them. Effectively, it not only instills a sense of confidence, but allows the person to envision a better outcome, and motivates him to find the extra effort to make it happen. Well-placed, it will go a long way to reducing the sense of despair and dissatisfaction that often dominates any situation, and it will boost the person’s happiness, and improve the quality of life. In this regard, repeated psychological studies have confirmed that people who are able to develop and maintain healthy attitudes of hopefulness are able to live a happier and more successful life than the others. This is precisely what Norman Vincent Peale, one of America’s most successful authors and inspirational speakers who popularized the concept of positive thinking, meant to convey when he advised:
“Practice hope. As hopefulness becomes a habit, you can achieve a permanently happy spirit.”
Hope serves as the driving force that encourages the need to strive for completion, in spite of any obstacles. It, not only bring out the creativity within us, but challenges us to find solutions, and then encourages us to commit to action. Because of our hope, doors to a better living are opened, our faith and confidence are strengthened, and we are able to think and act more positively. For this reason, Bishop Desmond Tutu, who with Nelson Mandela, was a leading figure in guiding South Africa out of apartheid, described hope as:
“A lighted candle in a dark tunnel, that gives enough light to reveal the path ahead, and points to the way out.”
But hope is much more than just expecting a good outcome. It is the basic nucleus for successfully embracing the future. Without it firmly established, there will be little confidence in anticipating and dealing with the obstacles ahead. Embracing the choice to hope gives the person control over how he reacts to the prevailing circumstances, and prepares him to handle anything that follows. And even when he encounters obstacles along the way, hope serves the vital role of cushioning the fears and uncertainties, while continuing to maintain a positive disposition. Hope serves as a reservoir from which he is able to withdraw the confidence needed to see the situation in a new light, and even point to new directions. Helen Keller, the remarkable American author, educator and disability advocate, whose life was a continuing story of hope from age 2 years, after she suffered an illness that rendered her deaf and blind, spoke from the depth of her own experiences, when she noted:
“Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible.”
All the major religions view hope with an optimistic attitude, and encourage their followers to depend on it for all the important events and circumstances in their lives:
-Christianity views hope as one of the three theological virtues, together with faith and love. The Holy Bible overflows with references for a strong and confident expectation of the future. Paul, in his letter to the Roman, chapter 8, verse 24, argued that holding on to hope was their salvation:
“For in hope we have been saved. If we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.”
-Islam, teaches that hope is considered to be the source of light for all those who yearn to have the good things in in this life, and in the life hereafter.
-Hindus believes that hope is an integral part of their future, and that in the long-term, the fruits of their effort will follow in their karma.
-Buddhism strongly endorses the fact that hope sustains life and is based on a desire of wanting various things in a particular way.
Without hope fully entrenched in us, few of us will be able to cope with the many obstacles and pitfalls that invariably occur along our paths of living, nor will we be able to have the confidence to look forward to a better future. For, without this genuine belief that hope supplies, we will not be able to face, far less, overcome them. Nor will we be able to persevere to completion, and be willing and capable of enduring the disappointments we encounter. The Holy Bible, in Jeremiah 29:11, offers the most reassuring and most confident promise however, and one that should be accepted by all of us, without reservation:
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
-This indeed is the true message, and the real intent of hope. It is never based on entitlement or fulfillment, but always on a desire or a wish for improvement. While others will search for advancement and enhancement, hope will produce contentment and satisfaction.
< >
KINDLY SHARE THIS WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND CONTACTS
No comments:
Post a Comment