Pages Menu
Rss
Categories Menu

Posted by on Dec 18, 2012 in Featured, Inspirational, Leadership | 5 comments

The Thrill of Hope

Hope__by_ChrisPhotographer700x300

 

The world’s irrevocably broken state reminds us of our own mortality. Currently, we are forced to reconcile the deaths of 20 young lives ended too soon in Newtown, Connecticut. Ongoing, we are infuriated by the cruelty of bullies and grief stricken when kids feel the only way to deal with one is to commit suicide.

 

We must believe that something better is possible even if it is not yet known

 

Sadly there will be no end to the disappointments we feel from the selfish actions of another human being.

But what are we to make of such grim realities? Simply put, we have two options: let the harsh reality bring us down or look to hope to lift us up.

We must look to hope. Otherwise an unconsolable misery awaits us. A dreary future beats out searching, finding and living life with purpose.

We are wired for hope. We turn to it for comfort. We use hope to life us up. It is the thrill of hope that brings us together. It is the thrill of hope that sparks individual action to triumph over adversity. Despite mortality, we seek to make the day better. We dream to improve the future.

 

We have two options: let the harsh reality bring us down or look to hope to lift us up

 

We must mourn our losses and celebrate life gone too soon. We cannot forget the dent any life made in this world. However, with great effort we must believe that something better is possible even if it is not yet known.

For as long as human beings live in this world, we need the thrill of hope to encourage and unite us in our quest to thrive in this broken world.

 

Photo courtesy of  Krzysztof Zator

 

Shawn Murphy (100 Posts)

Change Leader | Speaker | Writer Owner and principal consultant at Achieved Strategies. Co-founder of Switch and Shift. Passionately explores the space where business & humanity intersect. Promoter of workplace optimism. Believes work can be a source of joy. Top ranked on Huffington Post and HR Examiner.


468 ad
  • http://www.mills-scofield.com Deb Mills-Scofield

    Shawn – thank you for these words. I think our society trivializes hope – as something fanciful, naive, ‘cute’ and quaint. But, as you say, it is essential to life. Thank you

  • http://www.thecaremovement.com Al Smith

    Thanks Shawn. A much needed piece on hope. I agree with you. I just read something else on Hope in a meditation book.

    Hope is believing good will come, even in bad times. Hope is knowing that “this too shall pass” Hope is giving up control. Hope is knowing we never had control in the first place. Hope is knowing we are not alone.

    Thanks again Shawn for all you do to inspire and give hope to others.

    Al

    • http://www.switchandshift.com Shawn Murphy

      Al, I need to extend my gratitude to you and your work in spreading the CARE message.

      Merry Christmas,
      Shawn

  • http://www.maritzmotivation.com/blog Michelle Pokorny

    Is not hope really faith in action? Can we separate the two? One shared human attribute, wherever you go across the globe, any/every tribe or nation you will find faith in a higher power. If you took Al’s wonderful words and replaced hope with faith, would it not ring true? For me, hope is a gift given by God, who also has given us free will. My ‘hope’ is that, as country, we rise above politics and self-interest and take action toward finding a compromise between our rights, our needs and our protection from those with broken souls and minds.

    • http://www.switchandshift.com Shawn Murphy

      Michelle,
      Excellent points. I share your hope in the next set of actions our country will take in the wake of Newtown, bullying, and other broken actions we take against our own brothers and sisters.