Surviving and thriving. 

We wanted to make an important distinction between hope and optimism.

We are always talking about living with hope and inspiration. In research, optimism and hope were found to have radically different attitudes.

It is so difficult to fake positivity when you are really feeling it. We have to be real about how we truly feel.

Living with hope is an attitude, a lifestyle of trust.

If you are looking for hope in your day, you have to choose to look for it. You don’t have to be super happy or delighted in your current circumstance, there is an acceptance and also a belief that there is something better on the other side of the experience.

In the moment, we acknowledge and accept our pain, but we admit that there is going to be a positive outcome if we choose and trust, there is a reason for it.

You can choose to be positive during a difficult time and also feel the real feelings you are experiencing. It isn’t faking.

Real hope allows you to experience the entire spectrum of your feelings. 

Optimism is hoping that things will work out different. Hope is a person who lives in the moment and trust. It is not in the wishful state, it is in the moment state.

It is an internal experience, not an external experience.

In order to live a life of fulfillment we have to live with hope and fulfillment everyday. This does not mean that you have to bypass your feelings. Fake positivity doesn’t help get you to fulfillment.

When you are going through something in life, you have to be honest and feel it, you cannot bypass grief, or trauma or life. You can’t save others from pain or yourself.

Acceptance is that there will be moments of bliss and moments of heartache. Everyone will experience the full spectrum. Trusting that this pain will pass and that good things will happen.

Hope is also living in the moment, not bypassing time.

When you are in a place of needing hope, it is usually coming back to the moment, Getting out of the past, and future.

“The more hope you choose to see, the more optimistic you will be.”

What do you need to feel? What ways do you find hope and inspiration?

Let us know in the comments 🙂