How to Keep Your Hopes Up

As children, our hopes for life seem infinite. Anything and everything appears possible until-bit by bit, chip by chip-reality levels our sky-high visions. We see that things don't pan out as planned and to protect ourselves from the hideous truth that "life is unfair," we extinguish our burning desires and follow the advice of those who warn, "Don't get your hopes up." But what is life without hope? Without hope we are simply going through the motions, surrendering to fate and turning our backs on possibility. Without hope we might as well just be waiting for death. It is my hope that this article inspires you to reclaim your childlike wonder and embrace that innocent belief that wishes do come true. Here's to the power of high hopes!

Instructions

1. Trust that you are incredible. You are more beautiful, more powerful, more capable, more resilient, more ideal, more loved than your doubtful, self-conscious, puny human mind can truly comprehend. And you are more beautiful, powerful, capable, resilient, ideal and loved than the judgmental, self-absorbed puny human minds of the people around you will ever understand. Don't let your mind deconstruct your hope until it exists no more. Don't let the actions or words of others discourage your hopeful pursuits. I assure you--regardless of what happened in your past, regardless of your current situation, regardless of what you believe your future will be--you are incredible. There is no reason that your hopes cannot come true.

2. Look for signs that hope is alive. You don't need to look far. Right now, you are breathing in a gas that is perfectly suited to power your life: Oxygen! Isn't that proof enough that the world is on your side?

3. Understand the difference between being a hopeful creature and being a control freak. A control freak insists that every detail of life unfolds exactly as he or she envisions. A hopeful creature allows life's beauty to reveal itself in its own mysterious way. A control freak sweats the small stuff, while a hopeful creature embraces the big picture.

4. Put disappointment in perspective. Hope is not about eliminating life's ups and downs altogether. Hope is about believing that, despite these ups and downs, everything is going to be alright.

5. Never let fear drive your decisions. Think hopeful thoughts. Act from inspiration. Don't let fear of looking stupid, fear of not reaching your goals, fear of being let down or any other kind of fear keep you from believing in or acting on your hopes.

6. Surround yourself with hopeful people. Misery may love company, but hope absolutely needs it.

7. Be your own fairy godmother. Don't wait for miracles to give you a reason to be hopeful. Instead, make your hopes reality through dedication and hard work. The more you take action, the more success you will see, and the more success you see, the more hopeful you will become, and the more hopeful you become, the more eager you'll be to take action. It's a hopeful merry-go-round you won't want to hop off.

Tips & Warnings

• Hope is a choice. Hope doesn't happen unless you consciously choose it.

• Hope is a habit and it requires practice.