MZD - Ep 84 Cultivating Hope

"Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul And sings the tune without the words And never stops at all." ~Emily Dickinson   Today we're going to talk about hope.  What is hope and why is it important? Hope can be a bit complicated in today's complex world.  Too often when asked if something good or positive is going to happen, we hear people say "I hope so…", as if it probably won't, but they're going to wish for it anyway.  In context of what we are talking about today, wishing and hoping are two very different things.  Wishing is simply a sort of passive desire for a thing or state of being…   Wishing and and Hoping are two very different things. Hope is defined as "the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best".  Another definition is, "to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence". Hope is a positive expectancy, a proactive desire to receive.  It is a persistent emotion for the best.  It prepares the soil of the heart to receive all the goodness that it deserves, and when that goodness comes into being, Hope says, "See, I knew it all along!  I told you it would happen…" This is just a natural response when one has cultivated hope within. So how does one cultivate hope? One way that I have found to overcome hopelessness, which is obviously the opposite of hope, is to read stories of the struggles and victories of others who have been challenged. The greater the obstacles and challenges, the greater the victory.  Reading these kinds of stories and dwelling on the victories of others in the face of opposition can bring great hope and persistence into one's life. Listening to uplifting, positive stories, songs and podcasts and watching inspiring movies and TedX talks can have the same effect.  Hope is like a muscle that can be developed.  The more you work it, strengthen and cultivate it, the greater it increases.  So in today's meditation, let's set an intention to cultivate more hope in our lives…