In this episode of On Becoming the Change, I explore my relationship with hope and what it means to be hopeful in these times. It’s a concept I’ve had a complicated relationship with over the years, and this episode is an exploration of what hope means to me.
After spending most of my life learning about and working on the social and environmental problems that exist in the world, I’ve increasingly found hope to be a difficult word. A few years ago, I struggled deeply with eco-anxiety, had a pessimistic view of the future and found myself totally overwhelmed by the predictions for the future. Whilst I still think there will be intense challenges going forward, I have found a way to ‘be’ hope - not the kind of hope that is dependent on things turning out a certain way or based on what other people do - the kind of hope that is about practicing and choosing to live in presence and taking aligned action.
I reflect on hope as an active and intentional practice: letting go of attachment to outcomes, remembering our capacity to choose how we respond, focusing on what is within our control, cultivating the qualities and feelings we want to bring into the world, and trusting that meaningful action begins with the place we create from.
Throughout the episode, I talk about the role of agency, acceptance, and living in alignment with our values, and why I’ve found it more meaningful to focus on intention than outcomes. I also explore how the stories we consume shape our experience of the world, why cultivating feelings such as gratitude, awe, joy, and connection can help us stay resourced, and how taking action that feels deeply meaningful to us can create a sense of hope from within rather than relying on external circumstances.
I also explore the importance of protecting our energy, noticing where we place our attention, cultivating emotions that help us feel more alive, and recognising that the way we show up each day matters, regardless of what the future holds.
If you have been sitting with questions around how to find hope in these times, I hope this exploration offers you something to reflect on. I would love to hear your own reflections, views, and resources on what hope means to you, please do share in the comments.
On Becoming the Change is part of the Becoming the Change movement for people who are getting to know themselves more deeply, coming back to wholeness and exploring how to contribute to a more just and regenerative future from a more fulfilling, energising, and easeful place.
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