TOPICS: Audacity of hope

One of the most misunderstood and neglected words in today’s world is the word “hope”. Amidst all people including students the concept, meaning and the scope of hope are misunderstood.

Neither the education system nor the members affiliated can be indicted for this illusion of concept of hope.

Hope is often misunderstood with the concept and meaning of dream. A common and definite question arises, What is hope?

Firstly and most importantly, hope is not just a dream although they are related closely. Dream is wishful thinking.

However, hope is a broader term with wider aspect. It is an emotion, a mindset, a belief, a motivation. A dream might be wishful thinking of a destination. However, hope is not just about the destination. Dreams may be wishful idealism; however hope is far beyond the blind optimism.

Hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists despite all the evidences to the contrary, that something better awaits us as long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working and to keep fighting.

Hope includes four basic elements -- a belief , a goal , a path and willingness to take action. A belief can commonly come from a dream; a goal can be set on the basis of that belief and a path can be determined based on that goal.

With hope, we are able to transcend the self, observe the beauty in nature, live in peace, be respectful to others, live mindfully, and believe in the unknown, the ineffable.

Hope is an essential ingredient of optimism, which teaches us to “dwell on the best possibilities” in a dire situation. Hope as a spiritual practice is a remedy for hopelessness, existentialism, nihilism.

I know that words and speeches don’t solve all problems; however it is also true that if we cannot inspire the country to believe in change no matter how many plans and policies we make it will all be futile.

Hope is the reserve engine that keeps people moving during the time when something is craved yet its availability and outcome is uncertain.

Through every trial, through every woe, in health, in sickness, in poverty, and in want, hope, like a bright fixed star of promise, shines aloft, and bids us not despair.

Hope entered the dark chambers of our childish hearts, and has ever since been the sun of our existence, shining day and night, never dark, never extinguished.

Hope joined us in the cradle, and will be with us at the last.