By Littie Brown

 

How can “hope” keep someone focused on the next day?

 

This a question that I think about when I hear or read that someone has taken their own life. Families are left trying to understand what happened, what they could have done. They wonder if it was their fault and have many other unanswered questions—questions that will never be answered.

 

When I was writing Leadership Lessons from the HART, I would find myself reflecting on lessons I learned about hope. Like most people, I experienced many ups and downs over the course of my life and frankly, I still do. But hope is what kept me and keeps me moving forward.

 

Here are some thoughts when you think about the acronym H.O.P.E. and how it can help you achieve more in your life.

H – Having a positive attitude about life. You cannot take yourself so seriously that you can’t allow for mistakes or errors you will face along the way. I learned from my mom that the best laugh is one you have at your own expense. Enthusiasm is the “E” that is missing in HART. If you want to live longer, laugh! (Image via Pixabay)

O – Operate under the will of God. I was taught and still believe that God orders our steps. We must be willing to follow them by opening our minds and our hearts to hear and follow His lead. There are always two roads we can travel in life: a smooth and straight one or a rough and crooked one. We usually know which one is which and often choose the second. I can look back over my life and see where I made the decision vs. being guided toward the right decision. My decisions never turned out the way I wanted.

P – Pardon those who have wronged you. I learned a long time ago that holding grudges or harboring unforgiveness just takes up space in your mind. It can cause your health to deteriorate. Let go of pain that you cannot do anything about. Forgive even if no one asks for your forgiveness. Forgiveness is for you, not the other person.

E – Enjoy life because it is the only one you have. My all-time favorite song has always been, “Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand,” by Jennie B. Wilson. The lyrics says, “Life is filled with swift transition, naught of earth unmoved can stand, build your hopes on things eternal, hold to God’s unchanging hand….”

 

Hope is the belief that your coming days will always be better than your past—you just have to wait on them.

Keep looking forward, taking one day at a time.

 

Hope is our window into the future.

 

This post was written by Littie Brown.

Littie is the author of Leadership Lessons from the HART.