Hope: It Has Its Own Theory!

Continuing with effort is easy advice to give but harder to implement. How do I find and maintain the agency to keep going, you may ask? Well, that’s a great question! This is where intrinsic motivation comes is. When I set goals, I am mindful to find a way to incorporate my own interests and hopes into them. I need to feel a sense of buy in for it to have meaning and purpose and therefore to feel that it is worth my time. Likewise, believing that I can instigate change and achieve these goals is the empowerment I need to keep going, especially when I’m experiencing difficulties.

Hope, thought to be one of the most consequential emotions in promoting wellbeing and life satisfaction, has an entire theory based on it. During the 1950s and 60s, hope was thought to be “the perception that one can reach desired goals.” Following much research on helplessness and the assertion that it can be learned, learned optimism/hopefulness has given way to a more comprehensive definition: “Hope is a positive motivational state that is based on an interactively derived sense of successful agency (goal-directed energy) and pathways (planning to meet goals)” (Snyder, Irving, & Anderson, 1991).

According to positive psychologist Charles Richard Snyder, hopeful thinkers are those “who are able to establish clear goals, imagine multiple workable pathways toward those goals, and persevere, even when obstacles get in their way.” Consequently, they tend to achieve more and are holistically healthier than individuals who are less hopeful. Snyder developed the Hope Theory following his longstanding fascination with hope and *forgiveness. He argues that there are three main things that make up hopeful thinking:

1. “Goals – Approaching life in a goal-oriented way.
2. Pathways – Finding different ways to achieve your goals.
3. Agency – Believing that you can instigate change and achieve these goals.”

Let’s pull this apart a bit. If I wish to succeed with a given challenge, I must have specifically stated, attainable, realistic goals with a timeline in mind. It is also helpful if these goals are measurable in some way. I would brainstorm multiple ways to work toward these goals before taking my first action steps. I always try to have backup plans as I know from experience that not all good ideas end productively. Varied pathways give me alternatives in the case that I run into trouble. Trial and error can be frustrating. Many people grow tired of continued failure and may feel depleted or worse yet, defeated. Loopholes are a part of life. If we give up any time things get tough, we’ll struggle to achieve our goals.

What does this look like, you may ask? Well, I try to tap into my strengths. I use my creativity when thinking of multiple approaches to take. I know that if an attempt isn’t successful the way I’m accustomed to tackling it, I need to try something new. This innovation rekindles my own inspiration to persevere. Perseverance is essential to goal achievement. Each time I fail to get the result I’m seeking I reset my mindset. I acknowledge that things aren’t going as planned (or at least hoped). I reflect upon the process thus far, ask what I can do differently (again, percolating creativity), and rekindle my inner strength to dig in and keep going. I can ask myself, what strengths have I used to make similar things work in the past? How can I implement these same strengths now?

This resilience comes from my mindfulness that progress is difficult. It does not come without trial and often challenge. I recognize that I’m doing my best; this is rarely all I can do, however. Giving up is not a solution, so I either continue with my other ideas or I seek out alternative suggestions. I review my resources and look for a different way around the issue. This takes practice and courage. My success comes from not being afraid that things may not go as I wish. If they go differently than I hope, does that mean I’ve failed?

The answer to this question is an adamant ‘NO!’. The reason for this is that I have a growth mindset. You see, I know that I learn at least as much from my failures as I do from my successes. Am I content that my goals have not been met? Not necessarily, but I take what has happened and try to analyze what the learning points are.

What went well? Why did it go well? How can I make use of this strategy for future success?

What did I learn from the process? What did I learn from the endpoint? What can I take from each (or both) and use to change the outcome next time?

What new resources do I have?

I hope and strive to use this new learning to my advantage next time and challenge you to do the same. How do you handle challenges and what strengths can you put to use to help you persist?

If you’d like to learn more about your hope levels, multiple assessments are available. Here are links to two of the most popular, one for youth and the other for adults. Check them out!

Adult Hope Scale: https://form.jotform.com/201672340927454

Children’s Hope Scale: https://form.jotform.com/201672191516452

*C.R. Snyder cared deeply about the concept of forgiveness. To learn more, read my blog: https://www.larahaascoaching.com/forgiveness-act-or-attitude/