Cultivating Realistic Hope: How to Cultivate Realistic Hope

I am truly inspired by the people who are embracing uncertainty at this difficult time, supporting others, and maintaining their own self-care. It’s not an easy task to balance the reality of the fear, anxiety, and suffering that is occurring, and simultaneously cultivate realistic hope. How do these people stay so grounded?

Authors Angela Wilkinson, PhD, and Betty Sue Flowers, PhD write in Realistic Hope: Facing Global Challenges (Amsterdam University Press, 2018) that hope is possible because of how we have evolved: our functioning brain; our perspective or belief about possibility; and our focus on the benefit to public and private good. 

Cultivate Realistic Hope

In a previous post Cultivating Realistic Hope: What is “Realistic Hope, I shared that  C.R. Snyder defined hope as the “sum of the mental willpower and waypower that you have for your goals.” 

Willpower:

In this context, your willpower is your driving force; your mental energy that will propel you toward your goal. Willpower is your determination and commitment: your grit. Often times, your willpower is the story you tell yourself, about yourself. This is your self-talk, your inner dialogue. A strong willpower sounds like, “I can,” or “I got this,” or even, “let’s try this.” People with a strong willpower are willful: they focus on what they will do, rather than what they won’t do.

To maintain your willpower, pay attention to your self-care and especially your inner dialogue. Establish and maintain habits and routines that foster positive energy and cultivate realistic hope. Establish and maintain healthy mental and emotional boundaries.

Support collective willpower: During this pandemic, I often say “we can do this”. This is one time when we need positive “group-talk” to support our own self-talk and collectively raise realistic hope within our families, networks, and communities.

Waypower:

Your waypower is the course you will take and your mental capacity you will use to reach your goal. Your waypower allows you to adapt and adjust as necessary. In essence, your waypower is your perception of your ability to create thoughtful, flexible, and realistic plans.

First, you need an objective framework of the problem. Expert opinions are valuable when those opinions are unbiased, relevant, and encompass breadth and depth. Empathy and dialog are key to gain perspective. To learn more about gaining perspective at this time, I have been reading about Deep Democracy and how this cutting edge philosophy contributes to objective frameworks when there are no easy answers. I think we can all agree that during the pandemic, there are no easy answers!

Second, you need to envision alternative futures, or scenarios, to develop a vision for the future and formulate meaningful and achievable goals. 

Goals:

Your goals lead you to the outcome that you imagine. Knowing exactly what you want to achieve, the effort that is required, and how long you will need, will keep you determined. Establish smart(er) goals and contingency plans (if/then planning) to maintain momentum. Align your daily actions and review your progress regularly. Ask hard questions and engage in trade-offs as early as possible.

Act with Realistic Hope 

We are truly in the midst of a grand transition. We are facing problems without borders and governments without solutions. Again, there are no easy answers. The good news is that there are efforts underway that DO OFFER realistic hope. Those involved in finding solutions include international entities, ad hoc groups, and non-governmental organizations. AND let’s not underestimate the power of individuals like you and me. We all have the capability and capacity to cultivate realistic hope. 

Hopeful people recognize the challenges, their purpose, and a time horizon. They commit to act and complete the process with determination. As our knowledge expands, as new breakthroughs emerge, and as our beliefs and mindsets change, framing of the problems will also change. Relevant scenarios will need modification. Together, “we can do this”. 

What do you think? What are YOU doing to cultivate realistic hope? What steps are you taking? 

Where are you “emotionally” at this moment? I would like to hear from you. You can reach me at 416-804-4383, on LinkedIn, and on Maestro’s Facebook. 

Connect your head and your heart to bring realistic hope into your life and move away from hopelessness and overwhelm that feeds emotional burnout. Watch my recent interview with Mohammed Sheikh on YouTube, Head Off Emotional Burnout by Reframing Your Inner Dialogue.

Transformation is not a DIY project. Let’s start the conversation. Let’s work together with realistic hope and optimism even when change is forced upon you, when change blind-sides you, or when fear immobilizes you.

 I work with women business owners to thrive in work and life by validating their choices and amplifying their voices. These women are moving forward with realistic hope and adapting their behaviour in situations that require a different approach. Key tools and resources for leading dynamic change and transformation in their personal and professional lives include:  TRACTION (EOS Model) and Emotional Intelligence

Start with the complimentary online mini-course “Your Building Blocks to Emotional Well-Being and Resilience”

Contact me at [email protected], at 416-804-4383, on LinkedIn and Maestro’s Facebook.