Holding Space for Hope

"Hope is not a game plan".  I remember the first time I heard that saying and at the time believed it was true.  I mean, if all we do is hope for an outcome, would it ever really happen?  What about hard work and dedication and planning?  Aren't they what is truly required in order to reach a goal?  So I found myself being on high alert for hope and when I started to lean on it too heavily I would course-correct back towards the side of grit and perseverance and toil. 

I am finding myself in a different mindset these days.  I am starting to notice that although the discipline and determination I have often relied on have helped me to achieve many goals over the years, I am often left feeling empty.  With only the goal to focus on and the work required to get there in my sights, it can be a bit of a lonely road to walk down.  What I have come to realize is that something important has been missing along the way.  And that important something is hope.

In my mind, hope is the flickering flame on a candle that sheds light in a dark room or on a dark path.  It can seem fragile and fleeting and yet is often more resilient than we give it credit for.  It can provide just enough clarity to allow next steps to be taken without becoming overpowering and blinding.  It is what allows us to pursue our dreams on our own terms and in our own way.

This shift in thinking has made me revisit my previous beliefs and patterns around goal setting and achievement.  Why was I so ready to ditch hope for hard work?  What was it that made me unable to embrace this gentle and comforting guidance?  Perhaps those qualities themselves were what put me off.  Being gentle while working hard seemed counterproductive.  Don't we need to feel some sort of pain or discomfort for a goal to be worthwhile?  My old answer was YES!  My new answer is a definite no.

For me, holding space for hope allows me to see the bigger picture.  It illuminates options and choices that I might not have been able to appreciate or may have missed while I was head down grinding away.  Taking a breath and allowing myself to dream a bit is what can put things back into perspective and also allows for some course correction if need be.  But don't get me wrong, while I hold space for hope I also hold space and energy for hard work.  For me, leaning too far into hope feels like another way to procrastinate or not focus on what needs to be done.  While I am learning to embrace hope and appreciate what it brings to the equation, I understand that there needs to also be some digging in and getting at it in order to reach a destination or cross a finish line.  Coming to a new quest with a more balanced mindset helps to make the work feel more doable and also brings a sense of peace to the process. 


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