There is a difference between hope and faith. In my opinion, hope goes hand in hand with faith, but without hope, faith cannot continue. The spark of faith is created in the perceptive mind based on thoughts whereas hope rises from your spirit, a dogged will that is full of strength and courage. Sometimes in order for you to have hope, you need to be a ray of hope to someone else. When you get outside of yourself and are fully aware of what others are going through, it makes you grateful for your struggles in life. There is always someone else that has it worse than you. As an international motivational and inspirational speaker, I have the great honor of meeting so many people and hearing their inspiring stories of overcoming adversity. I have to tell you that it makes me grateful for my struggles. I would not want to trade my life with anyone else. You and I were made to walk in our own shoes.
In order for you to activate your hope muscle, you need to focus on where you are going to and not what you are going through. Do you believe that the impossible is possible? Do you believe that what you can think yourself to be, you can become? Do you believe that dreams are meant to become reality? I am here to tell you to believe beyond your dreams. I try to live my life thinking that I don’t want to die before I die. I don’t want to live life like a zombie. I want to live my life to the fullest. My spirit imitates my imagination. My creativity comes from my imagination. Whatever your simple mind can dream and create, it can do so much more. Believe beyond your dreams!
A question anyone might have is, “How do I overcome limiting thoughts and have hope?” Well I am going to go into detail about what I have done in my life, and it all started with a dream. At some point in your life, no doubt, you have had a dream. Maybe it was to be a doctor, an astronaut, professional sports player, a race-car driver, an artist, the President of the United States, or a rock star. Even if you don’t have a dream right now, you did when you were a child, because every child dreams. Even as adults, we dream. It may be a dream of getting out of an impoverished area, getting a better job or being rich. Everything is attainable if you focus on what you want and take the action to move towards that goal. Everything is motion, you are either moving forwards or backwards. There is no standing still. When you stand still, you are not moving forward, and if you are not moving forward you are going backwards. Focus on the sky and the stars and not the sewage of the world. Do not mentally starve yourself of living your dreams.
Take a look at motivational and inspirational speaker Derek Clark as he speaks about overcoming adversity and the gift of hope.
For a minute, let’s dive into your spirit. Try to go back in your mind and remember when you were about seven years old, how you felt, how free from the world and responsibilities you were, how you got along with everyone and had love in your heart. Remember how back in the old days there didn’t seem to be any worries. Emulate this child you once were, and this child will set your mind free. When your mind is free, you can dream again, taking flight upon the wings that you have been given to use.It all starts with energy. Energy creates motion, motion creates action, action creates results, results create achievement, achievement creates self-confidence, and self-confidence creates the mindset that allows you to help others fashion their destiny.
Change the world by changing yourself. Once you are confident about your own ability to achieve, you can help create a world of achievers through your example. People want to be successful and happy. But happiness is rare these days. You can usually spot a happy person because it is so unusual. There are tons of unhappy people who seem uninterested in anything but their own misery.
I have heard some wonderful stories about how children with cancer and cancer survivors overcame their heartache with hope, family, music, and laughter. They were all in bad situations, and yet they could still put a smile on their face. These are extraordinary people. Anyone that has been through extreme adversity and can still put a genuine smile and on their face is a great person. They laugh in the face of adversity. It is absolutely beautiful! Hope is for both young and old alike. Age doesn’t matter. What matters is where the heart and mind are invested emotionally.
For those that want to take hope a step further, I introduce you to faith. Faith is a belief, a knowing and trusting in someone or something. Do you know what the opposite of faith is? It is Fear. Faith and conviction in your actions is like food for your passion. It’s hard to achieve positive results in any endeavor without faith and conviction. Doubt is what drives the final nails into our coffins.
Remember, it’s all in the way you look at things. Keep a positive attitude, stay focused, take action and anticipate the reaction. Have strong faith in yourself.
It’s not hard knowing what to do, because we all know what to do. The challenge is to do what we know we ought to. It’s that simple. Focus on breaking hope down to baby steps, because baby steps are motion, and motion makes things happen and faith brings it all together. Remember to activate hope-H.O.P.E/-Helping One Person Everyday really works. When you do it, watch how your life opens up to new promise. With every action you take there is a guaranteed reaction. Life renews everyday. Engage life, and it will engage you. Let us breathe the gift of hope in each other and wipe out the darkness of despair in this world.
Derek Clark is an inspiring motivational speaker, the Ambassador for the Foster Care Alumni of America and a foster care expert on CNN Headline News and The Ricki Lake Show. He is the author of “Never Limit Your Life” and the “I Will Never Give Up” book series. Find out more at www.IWillNeverGiveUp.com and www.FosterCareSuccess.com
Motivational speaker Derek Clark’s acronym for Hope is Helping One Person Everyday.
oh my gosh thank-you!