Many people have a difficult relationship with the word hope. They have a fear of hoping. Someone asked me recently, “Does it take courage to hope?” The short answer is yes.
Hope is a bittersweet word to many. They fear being that if they believe in something, they will be let down hard. Fear of hoping can act as an emotional protection of sorts.
Yet hope is always available. I often hear statements like, “I am not sure if my hope is realistic?” I disagree; we need to allow our mind-body-spirit to experience hope, and not let our thoughts overwhelm us.
Daily, in my office, I see many opportunities for the light to enter darkness. I encourage us to choose hope. Hope is a beautiful intention. State it. Let it be your mantra and hold you for the day.
This is excerpted from Kelly Grosklags’ book A Comforted Heart: An oncology psychotherapist’s perspective on finding meaning and hope during illness and loss: Grosklags, Kelly: 9781979859998: Books (amazon.com)
Read more from Kelly on Open to Hope: The Difference Between Healing and Curing – Open to Hope