I would like to start with a quote that I read from Martin Luther:

“Everything that is done in this world is done by hope.”

The word hope is used so often that we tend to forget the real meaning of the word. 

Hope; to look forward to something with a desire and optimism, to believe, to have faith and anticipation.

I think that two things have to come into play before we can make our hopes a reality.

1. Is it something that we really want for ourselves?
2. What are we prepared to do to make it happen?

When we set goals, we need to be honest with ourselves and to acknowledge our weaknesses as well as our strengths. 

I like to search for things in my life that can enhance the hopes I have planned for my future. I try to keep my goals and hopes in perspective. By taking small steps so that I can work on what I can control.

Hope is not a permanent state of mind; it is something we must work at every day if we are to achieve what we want.

Working on our hopes takes time, remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day.

When cultivating a sense of hope, we need to understand how to stay positive and to function even when in circumstances that can cause us stress. Surrounding ourselves with like-minded people can help in these circumstances.

Sometimes when things aren’t working out as we planned, we might have to reassess the situation. Life is about how we react to things. Some times our ideals can change, and we need to rethink what we really want.

I have found that it makes the pathway to my goals easier.

With hope comes fear, a feeling of being unsure deep within ourselves. It might be that we think we might not succeed, or perhaps not to be able to manage the success if we obtain it.

This is why I take small steps; I can then evaluate my progress as I go.

This brings me to another quote that I think is a good one to remember.

Nelson Mandela; “May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.”

My friends, life is all about looking forward to our hopes with faith and anticipation. It makes my life worthwhile.

– Nancy.