Teaching Hope

I was recently in a conversation about all the uncertainty in the world.  As the conversation progressed, I could see the anxiety percolating in my friend: her voice grew louder, the pace of her speech quickened, and her brow furrowed.

Uncertainty is destabilizing. It can cause anxiety, worry, and a general feeling of malaise. When facing uncertainty, we often imagine the future. What that future looks like can depend on many factors, including our disposition and the skills we possess. Optimism is a way of viewing the world. Seeing the glass as half full demands nothing more than a particular perspective. Hope, however, requires action and growth.

Brené Brown says that hope is “a function of struggle.” We develop hope not during easy or comfortable times, but through adversity and discomfort. Hope challenges us to see what is possible even when we have no idea what the future will bring. It is brave to be hopeful.

I believe hope can be learned. It is a skill we can teach, cultivate, and grow. Parents and teachers can help children and learners develop hope when they allow them to struggle in developmentally appropriate ways, with a realistic possibility of success. The adults in their lives send a powerful message: “I believe you can do this.” When children sense an adult’s confidence in their abilities, they begin to trust themself and, in turn, develop a hopeful mindset. 

Positive psychologist C. R. Snyder’s Hope Theory is built on three components: clear, meaningful goals; pathways to reach those goals, including ways around obstacles; and agency- the motivation and belief that one can make change happen. In other words, hope requires action, perseverance, and a set of social and emotional skills.  

Teaching learners to name and articulate feelings of worry, disappointment, frustration, and pride can help them make meaning of a situation and develop strategies to manage those feelings. Those strategies might include pausing before responding, taking a break, or asking for help. Responsible decision-making involves considering several possibilities, choosing one, reflecting on the outcome, and, when necessary, trying another option. All of these skills can be taught, modeled, encouraged, and practiced, and are needed to develop a hopeful mindset.

We can talk about hope, give examples of hope, and describe its mental and emotional benefits. But in order to live hope, we need to teach the necessary skills. Hope is not simply something we feel or wish for; it is something we learn to do.