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Hope is beautiful, but it’s tricky.

When life knocks us down, people insist that we must stay hopeful and look for the silver lining. We also tend to give this advice to people who might feel lost or hopeless.

While this advice is helpful, the truth is it’s not always easy to put it into action.

I consider myself a hopeful person. When things go south, I take it slowly. I don’t think everything is going to work out right away, but I do believe that eventually I will move forward and beyond what’s making me feel fearful.

However, on some days, I feel like I will never be able to fix my problems. I know that worrying is futile and won’t diminish my fears (or problems), but maybe I worry in an attempt to feel better.

For some reason, overthinking the consequences makes me feel in control. It makes me feel that I’m finding my way back home. That I’m finding my way to the past where everything was certain and abiding.

And so hopelessness hits me. It reminds me that, at the end of the day, no matter how much positivity and good vibes we emanate, chances are we might always grapple with the fear of uncertainty.

The silver lining doesn’t show up, and the storm that I’m supposed to “positively” navigate stays for longer. But, you see, I don’t blame myself for expecting happiness, assurance, or quick fixes. I, like anyone who might be struggling with depression, anxiety, burnout, misfortune, or failure, want that hope they keep talking about.

The unknown is everybody’s worst enemy. It is the reason it’s so damn hard to find the light at the end of the tunnel. But recently, I have realized that the unknown could also be my greatest ally.

I don’t necessarily need to know where I’m going; I just need to believe that there is a path—any path—waiting for me. The compass might be broken, but the destination is right there, somewhere.

And so I start walking without stressing about the outcome. I enjoy the scenery and the path until I find a map. I throw away my broken compass and tell myself that I will eventually arrive to my destination. I…will…arrive.

That, is hope.

To keep going against all odds is hope.

To not be defeated by life’s unexpected turns is hope.

Persistence is hope.

Strength is hope.

Saying yes to life, at all times, is hope.

Saying no to fear is hope.

Hope is many things.

Hope is this:

1. “Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.” ~ Dale Carnegie

2. “Everything that is done in the world is done by hope. No merchant or tradesman would set himself to work if he did not hope to reap benefit thereby.” ~ Martin Luther

3. “A very small degree of hope is sufficient to cause the birth of love.” ~ Stendhal

4. “To be truly radical is to make hope possible, rather than despair convincing.” ~ Raymond Williams

5. “Take hope from the heart of man and you make him a beast of prey.” ~ Ouida

6. “Hope is the only good that is common to all men; those who have nothing else possess hope still.” ~ Thales

7. “All human wisdom is contained in these two words, Wait and Hope.” ~ Alexandre Dumas

8. “Time has taught me not to lose hope, yet not to trust too much in hope either.” ~ Carlos Ruiz Zafón

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