In many conversations over the past three weeks, I have felt the need and the responsibility to be hopeful, and to share messages of hope with others. This caused me to spend a considerable amount of time thinking about hope and exploring its power relative to one of my favorite topics – love. At the beginning of this exploration, hope seemed more ephemeral than love, more like a flickering flame that, when the wind blew, persisted only if it was protected by sheer will and determination.
Why, I wondered, did I see love as more steadfast, more permanent than hope? Why did I view love as the strongest sibling in the family of these virtues, along with other virtues, that so many of us are committed to demonstrating in our thoughts, our words, and our actions?
We speak about unconditional love – love without conditions, without expectations or requirements. When we choose to love someone unconditionally, when we commit to loving unconditionally, our love is unwavering. Why, then, does hope feel more conditional? What is unconditional hope?
I know how to remain loving when someone says or does something hurtful. I know how to remain compassionate when tempted to judge rather than forgive. But I must admit that during these past three weeks, there have been days when I did not know HOW to remain hopeful. Meditation and journaling helped me understand that hope, like love, is a choice. This obvious conclusion had not been obvious to me on those days when hope seemed so elusive. Today, though, I better understand that conclusion and I choose hope. I choose to be hopeful and hope-filled, reminded that this is how we are able to move through the most challenging hours or days or weeks of our lives.
Some of us live in places where Spring is now arriving. The crocuses and daffodils that survived the snowstorm and icy weather near my home last weekend are symbols of hope for me as I commit to choosing unconditional HOPE, unwavering hope, from this moment on. 🌼
As always, I welcome your thoughts about hope, and invite you to share them in the “Leave a Comment” section below. THANK YOU!
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I also posted this piece in preparation for guest-hosting Kumud Ajmani’s inspiring weekly #SpiritChat conversation… https://spiritchat140.wordpress.com/2022/03/16/hope-by-awakeningtrue/
A beautifully honest, kind and thoughtful post as always, Sharon. Thank you for sharing it! I’m glad to have read it this morning. To me, hope is the same as love, it never goes out – it’s steady, eternal and unconditional. It’s only our choices that flicker and waver. Life can be difficult, we forget the best choices to make – those aligned with love. Perhaps hope is the message or call to return to love, in our thoughts and choices ~ Kind wishes and with love – Tricia
I love the thought that HOPE is a choice. You say it so simply and choosing hope is how I am starting my day. Setting this intention feels powerful and a simple shift to positively impact the world around me. Thank you!
Hi Sharon – thank you for your provocative post. I agree that hope is a choice, but this is a question I’ve struggled with in the past. Is hope always a healthy choice? Hoping for something to get better or change when there’s no reason for it to improve feels like rejecting the present moment and setting yourself up to suffer. E.g., if a loved one is dying of a fatal disease, would it be better for me to hang onto the false hope that they will get better, or would I be better off trying to enjoy our last moments together? Not accepting their imminent death could also cause them pain as they are unable to die peacefully. On the other hand, we never know what will happen next, and a life without hope could cause us to give up when change is around the corner. Is it possible to accept the present moment while also hoping for something better?
I love that you frame hope as a choice – it’s a great way to think about it