Sing Songs of Hope
Sometimes the obvious is camouflaged by its obviousness. A great example of this is how often what serves us is unobserved in the things we say most often.
Too often what we tell others is a message to ourselves that we fail to give the attention it deserves.
The best example of this is how frequently we end some statement of plans or expectation with the words, “I hope so.”
Yet, even as we say, “I hope so,” we often completely ignore our own hopes and dismiss how “hoping so” can influence making things so.
This habit of not paying attention to our own self-reminders strips us of our own self-influencing powers.
In life’s classroom, all of us are teachers hoping the student within us is paying attention and taking notes. When we don’t pay attention, we dismiss our own capacity to be self-instructive, self-healing.
Now, no one can be sure that positive auto-suggestion always guarantees outcome, but who among us does not know that thinking positively or negatively impacts outcome?
To those who simply want a guarantee in life, buy a vacuum cleaner.
But, for any who want their life to be a harvest, planting hope is the best way to reap success.
If you doubt this, be reminded if you tell a child for a long enough period of time that he or she will be a failure, you will be a prophet.
And anyone, anyone hoping to break out of the downside of a habituation or addiction curve is best served to start his or her journey by reaching for the hope—as in rope—when you are dangling over an edge and need something for your spirit to hold onto so you might survive the arduous journey.
Remarkably, even in the most dire of circumstances, we often won’t allow ourselves hope—and refuse to hand ourselves the hope we’re seeking.
Even people of religious faith are too often waiting for God’s Hand and won’t reach for the helping hand God may have sent.
Let us remember, when hope is heaven-sent, it often has a human face.
Another way too many of us get locked out of hope is by thinking hope is too Pollyanna-ish. The idea that despair is more reality-grounding than hope is, is despairing. If you think having hope is hopeless, you’d better hope you are wrong.
If you think hope is an invitation to simply sit back and dream of good times, that’s not hope; that’s an excuse.
Some people confuse having hope with Mark Twain’s line: “Never put off until tomorrow what you can put off until the day after tomorrow.” That’s not hope; that’s hopeless. Hope is the lunch pail you carry to work, today.
If you want your life to be transformed or simply better, hope is the harbor of departure, the boat you want to be on, the train you want to catch, the right gate at the terminal.
No matter where any of us are heading, hope is the best way to gain traction so we might make headway.
If you feel you been heading downhill, hope is the route to the top of the mountain.
If you’re feeling lost, hope is healing’s GPS.
Fears follow doubt. Faith follows hope. Doubt your fears. Have faith in hope.
Sing songs of hope so opportunity can hear you coming, and transformation will greet you at the door.
Noah benShea
Copyright 2015