news&views Autumn 2018 | Page 15

he became aware of the earth . Nepo recalls putting his ear to the ground to see if he could hear warmth . His teacher informed him that a person couldn ’ t hear warmth ; but many years later , Nepo knew we could . He writes , “ Whenever you put your ear to the earth , or to your heart , you can hear deeper instruments at play , swelling our sense of things . When we are lost , frightened , or anxious , we simply have to remember to put our ear to the earth , or to the heart , and we will hear a warmth that guides .”
I suggest that what we need to do in this turbulent and confusing world is to put our ear to our hearts and hear a hope that guides . John C . Maxwell , a New York Times bestselling author , life coach , and speaker writes , “ Hope is in the DNA of men and women who learn from their losses . When times are tough , they choose hope , knowing that it will motivate them to learn and turn them from victims into victors .” According to Maxwell , when times are tough , those who persevere do so because they choose to listen to the hope in their hearts knowing that it will motivate them to learn and turn them from being victims of life into victors of life .
Maxwell tells the story of a man whose shop burned to the ground in the great Chicago fire of 1871 . The man arrived at the ruins the next morning carrying a table . He set it up in the midst of the charred debris , and above it placed a sign that said , “ Everything lost except wife , children , and hope . Business will be resumed as usual tomorrow morning .”
Each of us carries within us the enduring quality of hope , but we need to cultivate it . Being passionate about something and cultivating that passion can help to alter the flow of negativity and feed a positive power that strengthens our resolve and helps to lessen anxiety . There is much worth in cultivating — success , friendship , peace of mind , a healthy lifestyle , a loving family — but hope may be the most precious energy to
If we can imagine that the world can become a better place , then the power of hope can help us to create the world we imagine and make it real .
cultivate ; and to do so requires conscious effort and infinite courage and perseverance .
Everyone is capable of choosing hope and nurturing it . Hope encourages a positive mindset that allows one to recognize possibility and the preciousness and goodness in life . A negative mindset sustains hopelessness that , in turn , depletes self-motivation . Positive thinkers are inspired and fueled by hope , often believing that life can be better and will be better . Hope requires positive doing . We cultivate hope by being kind , respectful , and compassionate and by being accepting and understanding .
If we can imagine that the world can become a better place , then the power of hope can help us to create the world we imagine and make it real . We all know people who diligently seek to build a more kind , loving , caring , accepting , and generous world . Hope is their motivator , their guide , their heartbeat . Many of these people have survived some of the most horrific realities yet are still hopeful that an altered world is possible .
In one of his novels , French writer Alexandre Dumas wrote , “ Live , then , and be happy , beloved children of my heart , and never forget , that until the day when [ the Divine ] will deign to reveal the future to [ humanity ], all human wisdom is contained in these two words : ‘ Wait and hope ’.” No matter how hard it gets , no matter what odds you face , no matter how hopeless it all seems , never , ever , ever , under any circumstances , no matter what , don ’ t ever give up ! ●
news & views AUTUMN 2018 | 15