Hope is the Hook

Poem for Hope

A Hong Kong Proverb

As long as we have hope,

we have direction,

the energy to move,

and the map to move by.

We have a hundred alternatives,

a thousand paths and infinity of dreams.

Hopeful, we are halfway to where we want to go;

Hopeless, we are lost forever.

I like the idea of having hope, but I've always been suspicious of it. My friend Debby told me once, "Hope is the hook..." I think it keeps a lot of people stuck; in situations, mindsets, etc. hoping things will change. What if what you hope for doesn't manifest, despite your hard work (or not)? Or, you waste a lot of emotional energy hoping for that certain thing, with anxiety tagging along as you struggle daily with uncertainty of your hoped for outcome? On the other hand, to be hopeless takes everything from a person and leaves him or her at best stuck and at worst, seriously depressed!

So, what's the answer? I think it is just to "live your truth" (read The Four Agreements...I honestly feel if one can follow each agreement, one can be truly free, living their life)...no hope needed. There's just life and the inevitable challenges and obstacles that must be navigated. What if the challenge seems insurmountable? This is where the teachings of the Four Agreements (or looking to other spiritual teachings...I personally stay away from religious teachings but if it helps a person find faith and strength...) can help one strengthen the spirit, look forward (instead of walking backwards into your own future and missing the present), and release & forgive the past. Some people use the wisdom of family and friends to help them through, or a therapist might be necessary. Either way, the only way to overcome adversity forever is to go through it (think about how many times you might have gone around an adversity only to have the same adversity show up again and again!). This is hard because it requires one to feel pain and who wants to do that? So much of our past and the emotions of our past come up and confuse one's present. Still, this is where strength comes in, one must charge right through that challenge.

So, while I can feel inspired by this poem, I have not relied on hope for years to get me out of crisis. I rely on my heart and strength of spirit...and dogs.