Uh...Hope is Badass

Never lose hope, my dear heart, miracles dwell in the invisible. ~ Rumi

According to the April plan, today is the day to look at the virtue of Hope. Today is the day to take notice of hope, find hope within ourselves, hold onto hope, foster hope...just sort of saturate ourselves in hope. Ready?

I hope so...This could happen...Other people have done it...Things are going to be okay...We're going to make it through this...I have a good feeling about this, don't you?

Hope is important. Those naysayers that consider hope to be a lazy dreamer’s fluffy, insubstantial avoidance of reality don’t recognize the power of true hope. There’s nothing fluffy or insubstantial about it. As a virtue, Hope nourishes our dreams and ideals. It brings light to darkness and fuels our courage. It is an innate assurance that things will work out and our deepest wishes will come true.

To live without Hope is to Cease to live. ~ Fyodor Dostoevsky

Without hope, life would lose its meaning and we would lose belief in our journeys. Of all the tethers which anchor us to ourselves, hope is the one we hang onto the longest. Once we let go of hope, we let go of meaning and there’s not much reason to go on. Hope is the candle from which all other candles are lit – courage, love, joy, faith, trust – so that we can navigate dark times and overcome despair. Yep. Hope is badass. Hope is stronger than fear! If you have hope, you can do just about anything. Christopher Reeve was a huge fan of hope. He said, “Once you choose hope, anything is possible.” Are you going to tell me that he wasn’t a total badass? He chose hope, first, to get to courage. Then he used his hope, each and every day to fuel his confidence and growth and master discipline, pain and obstacles bigger than most of us will ever have to face (I hope).

A strong mind always hopes, and has always cause to hope. ~ Thomas Carlyle

Hope is what allows us to live in optimism. It’s looking forward with faith and purpose. Hope is important for our wholeness and wellbeing. In my opinion, hope is one of the greatest gifts that you can give. It is my opinion as well that one of the cruelest things someone can do is to undermine or kill someone else’s hope; to intentionally create a situation in which someone loses hope and becomes hopeless. Don’t do it! No matter how much you want to shake someone up. Don’t allow others to do it to you. Don't allow anyone to do so to anyone you love. Foster hope wherever you go, however you can. Not false hope, of course, but clear, solid, non-fluffy hope. Hope that says “nothing is impossible, even when it’s improbable.” Hope that seeks out courage. Hope that's emboldened by faith. Hope that encourages growth. Hope that allows others to find meaning in their lives.

Hope is that beautiful place between the way things were… and the way things are yet to be. ~ Ritu Ghatourey

Here's the April plan's mission for hope: Never let go. Spread hope wherever you go and let it light the way for others. Let your hope fuel your other virtues. Let your other virtues shape your hope. Even when life is at its stormiest, saddest, scariest worst, things are never hopeless. Choosing hope, and anything is possible; you can weather any storm. Hang onto hope and you can be a badass. Hang on and never let go.

Where there is a ruin, there is a hope for a treasure. ~ Rumi

PRAYER FOR HOPE:

Dear God,

I ask that you never let hope die in my heart, but that it is strengthened by my faith in the strength of Your love for me.

Amen

HOPE QUOTES:

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. ~ Helen Keller

Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying. ~ Romans 12:12

May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears. ~ Nelson Mandela

A strong mind always hopes, and has always cause to hope. ~ Thomas Carlyle

Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us. ~ Samuel Smiles

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. ~ Hebrews 11:1

I do not believe there is a more dangerous and destructive force in all the world than Hope, but I do not believe there is a more necessary or perfectly beautiful one either. ~ Tyler Knott Gregson.

Listen to the mustn’ts, child. Listen to the don’ts. Listen to the shouldn’t, the impossibles, the won’ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me…Anything can happen, child. Anything can be. ~ Shell Siverstein