Holding hope means that we embrace a feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best. Someone asked me recently if acceptance and holding hope are mutually exclusive. I think that both are possible simultaneously.
Peace comes when we accept what is happening in this moment and, without getting lost in wanting things to be otherwise, we hold hope for what is wanted. When we focus all of our attention on hope, we lose an opportunity to be present with what is happening, right here, right now. Held lightly, hope lights our path in moving forward toward a life that we imagine to be possible for ourselves.
How can we hold hope for our own healing during loss and other difficult times? Daily mindfulness practice allows us to practice acceptance of whom or what is loss while also holding an intention for our own healing. Hope and other positive emotions can support us in being more resilient during difficult times.
Jen Johnson is a mindfulness teacher, coach, and therapist teaching meditation for healing, creativity, and resilience. To learn how to practice mindfulness, register for the MBSR online Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course.
Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today. –Thich Nat Hahn