Hope is where reality starts

You have to have hope, said legendary football coach Lou Holtz. I agree; hope is where the reality you create starts. Without hope, there are no prospects for a better future. So what are you hoping for?

Hope resides in your imagination, detached from the reality you are living in. It’s an image you form in your mind of a possible reality that does not exist yet but can hope for. Viktor Frankl said: “Our greatest freedom is the freedom to choose our attitude.”

So hope is, first and foremost, a choice. It is a creative choice, where you start writing the story of your future reality in your imagination. It’s not enough, of course. 

You have to get practical about it ASAP if you want to realize your perception of the future.

Hope-based action can change the world

Action is one of the pillars of stoic philosophy. The stoics would not base it on hope but perception and promote “right action.” Marcus Aurelius says: “The things you think about determine the quality of your mind. Your soul takes on the color of your thoughts.”  

In other words, your hope for a better future defines your actions to attain that future. If you take it further towards a better future for humanity, you have a good base and may contribute to changing the world. 

Take any global purpose that relates to your reality and find your way to contribute to promoting a solution. In their book Bold, Steven Kotler and Peter Diamandis speak about a Massively Transformative Purpose for one’s life. A purpose that lies where your personal and global goals collide. 

So hope is not the answer; it is the beginning of a bigger purpose and goal-seeking that may lead to “right action.” 

So what are you hoping for? Let us know in the comments below.