Ever created a list of hope? I think everyone has at one time or another. Even if you didn’t write it down, you probably held it in your head. As with every list, there is the potential for losing it.
You don’t want to lose the list of hope.
The importance of hope is an obvious one. Hope is to the human being, what gas or electricity is to a car. You need it to get to where you’re going. Hope is a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day, a star in a dark night sky. I know you understand this.
Everyone has heard and read the stories of late. The ones of people who couldn’t fend off the despair. If you find yourself in that place reach out for help. My post is not my attempt to solve the issue of suicide or give insights into its roots. I want to start in a place where losing hope can be all too common. The place is where things are somewhat stable to good. Regardless of where you may find yourself, I want to give some encouragement around the list of hope.
I have a list that looks like this:
- I have friends and family who value and love me, therefore I have hope
- God has expressed his love for me multiple times (circumstances, conversations with loved ones, times of meditation), therefore I have hope
- I have built business relationships that go deeper than a transaction, therefore I have hope
- I’ve dealt with great difficulties and come out on the other side better, therefore I have hope
- I look at nature and see its resilience and order, therefore I have hope
Your list can look like mine or something radically different. The key is creating the list. In the words of the writer:
“All of us get lost in the darkness, dreamers learn to steer by the stars.” – Neil Peart
My reasons for having the list of hope is having a document I can go to when I lose hope. The list is something tangible to remind me of what’s important. There are times (reoccurring) when I need to pull this list out to refresh, reframe and keep going.
I’m here if you need me, reach out if I can help in a bigger way.