Many people have a difficult relationship with the word hope. They have a fear of hoping. Someone asked me recently, “Does it take courage to hope?” The short answer is yes.

Hope is a bittersweet word to many. They fear being that if they believe in something, they will be let down hard. Fear of hoping can act as an emotional protection of sorts.

Yet hope is always available. I often hear statements like, “I am not sure if my hope is realistic?” I disagree; we need to allow our mind-body-spirit to experience hope, and not let our thoughts overwhelm us.

Daily, in my office, I see many opportunities for the light to enter darkness. I encourage us to choose hope. Hope is a beautiful intention. State it. Let it be your mantra and hold you for the day.

This is excerpted from Kelly Grosklags’ book A Comforted Heart: An oncology psychotherapist’s perspective on finding meaning and hope during illness and loss: Grosklags, Kelly: 9781979859998: Books (amazon.com)

Read more from Kelly on Open to Hope: The Difference Between Healing and Curing – Open to Hope

Kelly Grosklags

Kelly Grosklags, LICSW BCD FAAGC is author of “A Comforted Heart: An oncology psychotherapist’s perspective on finding meaning and hope during grief and loss.” In her 25 years of experience, Kelly has helped patients, families, caregivers, and clinicians understand and cope with grief, loss, and traumatic illness. Kelly founded an online forum of hope and healing, called “Conversations with Kelly .” She is also the award-winning filmmaker behind a ground-breaking educational documentary titled “Dying Is Not Giving Up ” which aims to teach compassion and empathy to future medical providers. Kelly is an international speaker, podcast host and social media blogger. For more information on Kelly, her work, and her healing community visit www.conversationswithkelly.com.

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