Winner's Circle Network with Lou Tice - What is Hope?

[Guest guest]

Winner's Circle Network with Lou Tice - " What is Hope? "

I think everyone would agree that a hopeful attitude is a good thing. But

what exactly is hope? Can it be learned? Centuries of folk wisdom and

religious teaching have taught the benefits of a hopeful attitude. These

days, researchers believe that hope may be associated with good health and

greater success, both personally and professionally.

But what exactly is hope? Well, according to Dr. Rick Snyder at the

University of Kansas, hope is a practical, goal-oriented attitude - a stance

people assume in the face of difficulty. It combines a goal-directed

determination with the ability to generate the means of reaching the goals.

Dr. Snyder developed a test to measure hopefulness, and he found that

college students who scored high in hope also turn in the best academic

performance, regardless of high school grades or SAT scores. Folks who are

injured or seriously ill do better when they have high hopes, too. Actor

Reeve had every intention of walking again, and had he lived, I

would not have been surprised to see him do so. Hope was a very large part

of his being.

The research also suggested that - all other things being equal - a hopeful

attitude helps people overcome obstacles like poverty, lack of education and

even lack of social support.

Can you learn to be hopeful? You bet you can! See failure as an opportunity

to learn rather than a flaw in your character, and make a habit of

remembering your past successes. Break down your long-term goals into

short-term sub-goals, and reward yourself for reaching them. Visualize a

positive outcome for every situation, affirm yourself for all your good

qualities, and no matter what happens, hang on to your hope.

Lou Tice

The Pacific Institute

Blessings,

Charlene

__________________________________________________