By Peter Thompson — 2010
Any movement that seeks social improvement is a faith-based one – but we must resist harking back to limiting certainties.
Read on www.theguardian.com
CLEAR ALL
I think faith is much more of an everyday thing...Hope is faith, to me. They’re intertwined. You have to believe things can get better, and you have to believe there is a bigger force at work.
I’ve found during the pandemic that optimism isn’t the best way to improve your well-being. The research shows that hope is a far more potent force. We can all get better at it as we work toward recovering from the pandemic, and benefit from our improved skill for the rest of our lives.
A very good friend of mine periodically asks me: Why do you believe that we are evolving in a positive way? Why do you believe that our consciousness is developing toward greater complexity, inclusivity and unity?
Sometimes, when things don’t go according to plan, we lose faith, not only in ourselves, but also in any potential outcome in our lives. Failure will do that to you.
Faith is an expression of hope for something better. More than a wish, it is closer to a belief, but not quite. A belief is rooted in the mind. Faith is based in the heart.
It really is possible to change your mindset.
2
As uncomfortable as it may feel, pushing ourselves to imagine that better future may be a crucial way for us to maintain some semblance of mental well-being—now and whenever that beautiful future does arrive.
Hope is more than just positive thinking.
While hope is an undoubtedly personal experience and one that can be challenging to define, the value and positive impact hope can have on human life is widely recognized and difficult to ignore.
Hope is a necessity. It is our emotional engine, the basis for engaging with life.