THE POWER OF HOPE

This week was International Women’s Day; a day that draws attention to the achievements and contribution that women make in our world.

In an ideal world, we wouldn’t need such a day because the voice and credibility of women would be equal to that of men every day, but history has shown that the role of women has often been ignored, silenced or played down. In this context, women across the world could have remained silent, subservient and accepting of the roles men gave them, but some women saw than more was possible.

Some women had hope…

Hope is about seeing more than there is now. Seeing something that is currently impossible, could be possible. Seeing way beyond all the current evidence or experience. International Women’s Day has it’s roots in the suffragette movement which fought for Women’s right vote back in the early 1900’s. Women who beyond all their current evidence or experience believed that it was possible for women to play a more equal role in steering the political agenda. 

As we look around today, we might be right to flag that equal voice for women has still not been fully realised, but I imagine those who were behind the first International Women’s Day would be astounded at how far we have come. They dared to hope, they dared to dream, they dared to act in spite of their evidence and experience.  

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. It’s easy to look back at those behind the Women’s movement and see their victories. But I imagine there were days when they felt very much defeated, days when they felt like giving up. We know there are those who were injured and killed in the process of fighting. Hope on those days was surely distant. But those that carried on, continued to believe, continued to hope. 

I celebrate those who hoped beyond their evidence or experience. I believe society is better for their efforts. I believe there is further to go and more to come. 

As we look around, we may become overwhelmed with evidence or experience that things are ‘bad’. Whether that be globally, nationally, locally or personally. And there is truth there. As I’ve watched the news over the last couple of weeks, I have all the evidence to believe things are ‘bad’. But I also see individuals who dare to hope. People who believe there is more than there is now. People who don’t just accept that this is how it is, but see possibility beyond it. 

To hope is to live with something better in mind. To hope is to act in a way that holds that ‘better’ in the mind. 

TRY THIS …

Take a moment to reflect. Think through these five steps.

STEP ONE

Acknowledge those things that are hard, difficult, challenging; personally, locally, nationally and globally. Acknowledge what seems impossible to change.

STEP TWO

Dare to believe that things could be better; hold that ‘better’ in your mind. 

STEP THREE

Consider what small thing, if anything, you can do towards that ‘better.’

STEP FOUR

Recognise what you can’t do. Let it go.

STEP FIVE

Choose to hope beyond all evidence or experience for change

This article is by Ben Harper. You can continue the conversation with him @wellbeingteach on Twitter.