Hope: The Positive and the Negative

📖 Turning the Page

This past “season” has been one of the most transformational of my life.

I’ll spare the details (so unlike me), because some stories are best left private—for now. The few people who’ve known parts of my recent journey—if not the full picture—know who they are. They likely won’t see this post… and sadly, may never understand just how much I’ve changed because of my journey.

But after everything—what remains? Hope.

Hope as a Driving Force

I’ve written a lot over the years. Most of it has been seen by very few. The pieces I’m most proud of

have always been rooted in two things: my heart and my hope.

I can’t do much about the heart. As we all know, it tends to have a mind of its own. That can be good…

or bad… and either way, it tends to show up in my writing. Nothing writes like the heart—whether full or broken.

As for hope? I’ve always thrived on it.

And that’s where my current struggle begins.

🎬 A Quote Worth Repeating

To help express this inner battle, I often turn (as one does) to The Shawshank Redemption.

Because… don’t we all?

“Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”

—Andy Dufresne (The Shawshank Redemption)

The Positive Side of Hope

I try to be optimistic. I try to stay positive.

But like many people, I struggle when surrounded by prolonged negativity.

Not long ago, hope wasn’t just something I believed in—it shaped how I lived. It dictated my mornings and nights. It fueled my workouts, improved my performance at work, and inspired some of the most personal, powerful writing I’ve ever done.

Hope energizes me.

And yet, by its very nature, hope exists because something is out of your control. That’s the paradox. That’s the struggle. And perhaps that’s where the phrase “clinging to hope” came from.

At first, hope sustains you. But over time—like willpower or self-control—it can start to wear thin. Despite your efforts to seek it, some days it just isn’t there. I’ve learned that hope can be fickle—and sometimes, it even turns on you.

The Negative Side of Hope

“Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane.”

—Ellis “Red” Redding (The Shawshank Redemption)

I’m not referring to the total absence of hope (though despair has its own dark power). What I’m wrestling with is when hope itself turns on you.

Maybe it’s just me. But I doubt it.

When the hope you cling to becomes exhausting, even toxic, it can stir emotions like:

●       Anger

●       Resentment

●       Bitterness

●       Frustration

●       Justification

●       Hopelessness (obviously)

●       And yes, even Despair

…all while you're still clinging to the thing that’s hurting you. Hope. That’s the risk of hope. And it’s a risk many of us take.

⬛ Is Hope a Choice?

That’s the big question.

Is hope a conscious choice? Is it a smart one?

Maybe. (What, you thought I was going to give you a clear answer?)

Personally, I believe it’s meant to be a challenge.

Hope is a daily battle—until the universe, God, karma (whatever you believe in) steps in and resolves things for you.Only then can you move on.

With hope…or without it.

Don’t Abandon Hope—Let It Leave You

So what do you do in the meantime?

Cling to hope. (My opinion) For as long as you can.

Control what you can. Be patient with yourself. Be honest with others.

Work toward lasting, meaningful change.

Fight the good fight—for hope—even if it stings.

And when hope fades, let it do so on its own. Let it leave you gently. Quietly. Over time.

Because if you abandon hope, you may carry that regret.

But if hope fades on its own terms… you’re free to move forward—with less weight and less shame or even heartache.

Final Thought

Ironically, hope can be painful at times.

But it’s also a life force.

It makes you better. Braver. Kinder.

It gives you energy to act. To create. To care. To write.

So even when it hurts, I still try to keep it alive. Because the alternative, at least for me, is far worse.

And yes… I look forward to seeing you in Zihuatanejo.

Want to lead with more impact?

Let’stalk.Ihelpindividualsandteamsputtheseprinciplesintoaction—withclarity,intention,and measurable results.