The most widely endorsed model of hope in the field of psychology was developed by C.R. Snyder, a researcher and clinician at the University of Kansas in the 1990s. According to Snyder’s work, hope thrives when three basic conditions are met.
The first condition is having a goal, something important or meaningful to strive for. Certainly those in the political opposition have many goals. The key to setting this condition in your own life is to choose to adopt a goal that is truly meaningful to you—one that gives you a sense of purpose. Viktor Frankl, the late great psychiatrist and holocaust survivor, was often asked what kept him going during his time in the concentration camps. In response, he often quoted philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche: “He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.” Certainly we’re far from the horrors of World War II, but this saying still holds great wisdom. A lot of people are feeling disheartened by “how" the political climate is right now. But a sense of purpose can keep the flame of hope lit by giving us a “why” to live for.
The second condition for hope to thrive is having what Snyder called "pathways”—strategies or plans that you believe could help you to achieve your goals. There are lots of possible pathways in politics, including protesting or marching, blogging or tweeting, volunteering for a non-profit organization, donating to a cause, writing to your congressperson, signing a petition, or even running for office. Regardless of whether you choose one of these pathways or any other, the important thing for keeping yourself feeling hopeful is to choose to do something that you believe will positively contribute (even in a small way) to achieving whatever goal or goals you’ve embraced. It’s not necessary to change the world all at once, just to take one step at a time along your pathway.
Finally, the third condition for hope to thrive involves nurturing a sense of personal agency. Agency, a fancy word for empowerment, pushes us forward to work on our goals. As in Watty Piper’s celebrated children’s book, The Little Engine That Could, agency fills us with the belief “I think I can” and is the engine of hope. For many, this sense of agency comes in part from the care and encouragement of those in our lives. When people come together in support of one another and their collective goals, this bolsters agency.
This is what The Bridge is all about!!
The first condition is having a goal, something important or meaningful to strive for. Certainly those in the political opposition have many goals. The key to setting this condition in your own life is to choose to adopt a goal that is truly meaningful to you—one that gives you a sense of purpose. Viktor Frankl, the late great psychiatrist and holocaust survivor, was often asked what kept him going during his time in the concentration camps. In response, he often quoted philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche: “He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.” Certainly we’re far from the horrors of World War II, but this saying still holds great wisdom. A lot of people are feeling disheartened by “how" the political climate is right now. But a sense of purpose can keep the flame of hope lit by giving us a “why” to live for.
The second condition for hope to thrive is having what Snyder called "pathways”—strategies or plans that you believe could help you to achieve your goals. There are lots of possible pathways in politics, including protesting or marching, blogging or tweeting, volunteering for a non-profit organization, donating to a cause, writing to your congressperson, signing a petition, or even running for office. Regardless of whether you choose one of these pathways or any other, the important thing for keeping yourself feeling hopeful is to choose to do something that you believe will positively contribute (even in a small way) to achieving whatever goal or goals you’ve embraced. It’s not necessary to change the world all at once, just to take one step at a time along your pathway.
Finally, the third condition for hope to thrive involves nurturing a sense of personal agency. Agency, a fancy word for empowerment, pushes us forward to work on our goals. As in Watty Piper’s celebrated children’s book, The Little Engine That Could, agency fills us with the belief “I think I can” and is the engine of hope. For many, this sense of agency comes in part from the care and encouragement of those in our lives. When people come together in support of one another and their collective goals, this bolsters agency.
This is what The Bridge is all about!!
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