Lighting the Candle of Hope

No matter our industry or craft, each of us is in the relationship and people business. A leadership practice that is often overlooked and undervalued within it is the art of cultivating hope. Hope is the internal belief that no matter the adversity, turbulence, civil unrest, darkness or uncertainty in life, we can get to the other side of light and be better for it. Hope marries empathy, faith, vision and resiliency into the intentional habit of focusing on what is actually in our control at any given moment. Hope is that beacon of light off in the distance that shines through us and moves us one step forward.

Our ability to see the bright side of a seemingly hopeless situation becomes the mindful practice of building mental stamina and hope. No matter our job title or role, we are responsible for cultivating hope and designing the future. Each of us should strive to become Chief Hope Officers in our daily living.

Hope is where the future lives. Chief Hope Officers inspire those they lead and love by innovating for the future but not forgetting to live for the present. Chief Hope Officers find a way each day to win the battle in their minds against fear, doubt and negative self-talk. They rise above perceived obstacles and grow beyond faith into trust.

When the road ahead is unknown, every step requires hope. If we can envision, build and live hope, we can venture from where we are today to where we aspire to be tomorrow. Each of us is responsible for manifesting hope into reality. Yet, realize this effort of cultivating and sustaining a culture of it is never an individual pursuit. It is a collective endeavor that will require each of us to play a role with compassion, resiliency, gratitude and grace.

May we aspire to do our part and do the right thing by finding moments and opportunities to keep the hope alive. Now more than ever, we can be the agents of change and the Chief Hope Officers who keep alive the light that burns in each of us and those we love, serve, coach and lead. It is in those moments that we dim our light that humanity's hope dies.

We can and we will rise. The light of the future is always in our hands.