What is Hope?

Before we get to the three Superpowers needed to restore or find Hope, we should probably define Hope and talk about the problems that occur when Hope is lost.

The Superpower Hope is positive belief that ignites a chain reaction. What follows Hope is inspired positive action. Those positive actions result in positive change.

Hope without positive action is simply fantasy. For example, I may Hope for a better job, more money, more time with my family or to be rescued from a difficult situation. However, if I don’t take some sort of action, those Hopes are merely wishes that won’t just magically happen.

Absence of Hope

The absence of Hope creates a vacuum that literally sucks. The vacuum sucks in unwanted items to fill the void that was once occupied by Hope. Dark feelings of emptiness and despair creep in to fill the void. They may lead to depression, aggression or other destructive feelings and behaviors.

If Hope is lost, the good news is this Superpower was within your reach at one time. Even if you don’t believe you have ever known or felt Hope, you can take the following steps to activate three critical Superpowers that can sustain you and move you closer to finding Hope. Whether finding it for the first time or whether you have recently lost this Superpower critical to life, the following steps will help you restore Hope for good.

Activating Faith

The first Superpower to activate is Faith. It may seem like it should be more complicated than to simply have Faith. Activating Faith is a decision. Yes, Faith is a decision you can make right now. Make the decision now that all the resources you need will be given or shown to you. Make the decision now that you will recognize the opportunities for solving any situation that is troubling you. Have Faith that the people you need in your life to overcome any obstacle will show up to help you. I find that the simple decision to have Faith in myself and Faith in God can be as comforting as drinking warm cocoa on a cold night.

Believing in something you can’t immediately prove is difficult, so you may want to enlist the help of friends who have this incredible Superpower.

Often but not always Hope is lost because of an unexpected tragedy, illness or death. Having Faith that you can prevail, even through the most difficult situations, will bring you closer to Hope. Faith in yourself and in a higher power that will sustain you and those affected by your loss of Hope is critical to finding the precious Superpower Hope.

My Faith in God has been the life-saving Superpower that restored my Hope many times. Faith helped me each time I’ve lost Hope when facing a problem I was sure would destroy me.

No matter how unbelievable it may feel, decide right now to have Faith.

Activating Love

The second Superpower to activate is Love. Not the heart throb type of romantic love. The Superpower Love is deeper, unconditional, and meant for you. Yes, you must Love yourself – first. Then turn that same life sustaining Love to your neighbors, friends, relatives. Even those you may feel have contributed to your loss of Hope. Love them unconditionally, in your heart, in your mind, deep in your soul. This Love will bring Hope closer to you.

The power of loving yourself first is an insulator from those that may be unwilling or unable to return your Love. They may even have caused a tragedy, illness or death that contributed to your loss of Hope.

By activating Love for yourself first, you will intuitively create the boundaries needed to protect yourself from physical or emotional damage. Loving yourself first also gives you the ability to Love others more completely.

Loving some people that have negatively impacted your life may require ongoing practice and a safe physical distance. Love them anyway as you keep your distance.

You may have figured out by now that unconditional Love, like Faith, is also a decision. Decide today to Love. Even though you may not feel it yet, the Superpower of your Love will bring Hope closer.

Now before we get to the third Superpower, take a moment, relax, get a cup of your favorite beverage. You may want some quiet reflection time as you contemplate the next Superpower.

Activating Forgiveness

The third Superpower to activate is Forgiveness.

If you have been injured by someone who has contributed to your loss of Hope, this will likely be a huge challenge. There are also amazing rewards by activating your Superpower Forgiveness.

As difficult as it may be to activate, it does get easier each time. Yes, you’ll need to consciously activate this Superpower many times – even for the same person or circumstance. Think of a rough, uncut diamond as you consider the situation or person you are forgiving. Now imagine every time you give Forgiveness, a rough edge of the diamond is smoothed away and reveals a brilliant new facet of the diamond. Each surface of the diamond is a new view of the many sides of the situation or person that, over time, is revealed and requires Forgiveness.

I know from experience how frustrating this process can be. Just when Forgiveness feels complete, another rough edge that needs smoothing appears. Remember, this does get easier. Relief along with many other rewards comes each time Forgiveness is activated.

By the way, you are the diamond. You are definitely worth the effort that may feel like intense heat and pressure. That is how diamonds are formed in the earth.

So now you have probably figured out what I’m about to say. Yes, Forgiveness is a decision. It is easier when we feel like Forgiving someone, but that feeling isn’t necessary to make the decision to activate this precious, healing Superpower, Forgiveness. Decide today. If it doesn’t seem sincere, decide anyway. If you don’t think it will make a difference, test for yourself by sincerely, consciously deciding to Forgive.

It is always helpful to surround yourself with others that have the Superpowers you are Activating like Faith, Love, Forgiveness and Hope. Look around for the people in your life who are living examples and it will be easier for you to discover the magic of activating each Superpower for good.

So how will you know when you’ve found Hope?

Hope may return gradually or all at once. You’ll feel the difference as the vacuum is filled with the positive activities required to restore Hope.

There are many different perceptions about Hope, and more than a few books written on the topic. In the book “Hope Is Not A Strategy” by Rick Page, the author describes the specific actions required for sales success. His philosophy gets the attention of sales people and sales managers who want proven action steps to be successful in sales instead of just hoping or wishing for a positive outcome.

I happen to believe holding onto Hope is a strategy for success in life and does require action. If you’re looking for help with positive action ideas to increase your sales success, I recommend this book.

Another book, “Surprised by Hope” by N.T. Wright, refers to hope for life after death. The subtitle of this book is Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection and the Mission of the Church. My belief in Hope has and will continue to sustain me in this lifetime.

However, I’m reading the book because a friend recommended it to me. Reading this book is one of my own positive actions as I grapple with the recent and unexpected deaths of a few friends. I’ll keep you posted on how or if it helps me in coping with losing my dear friends.

The Webster Dictionary says Hope is a verb, which means action. A brief definition is “Hope is to desire with expectation of obtainment.” Hope as a Superpower in this lifetime requires intentional daily action to fulfill our purpose and obtain the successes we desire in this life.

Activating the Superpowers that will restore Hope are simple, but not always easy. However, just one of the incredible benefits of finding Hope for yourself is that it is easier for those around you to find or restore their own lost Hope.

Would you be surprised to learn that you may have within you more than 52 Superpowers? Find out how to unlock them in my new book Superpowers Activated – Discovering the Magic. It will be available on Amazon.com late October 2017.

Let’s do this,

Debbie Donaldson
Champion for Good