The world recently learned of the death of Jane Goodall, who has long been an inspiration to me personally and to millions around the world. She was a seemingly tireless scientist, conservationist, and activist, passing away at age 91 while traveling on a speaking tour. Dr. Goodall’s last book, published in 2022 (when she was in her late 80’s, living through a global pandemic), is titled The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times. In it, she reminds us of the interconnection between hope and action – without hope, we do not take action for change; by taking action, we generate hope. In the short time since this book came out, our times have only become more trying and hope seems both more elusive and more necessary than ever.
In thinking about the role of hope for our survival and the survival of our world, it is important to note that hope is different from optimism. Optimism is characterized by a belief that somehow, things will turn out well. Hope, on the other hand, serves as a motivator, believing that we can do something to bring about the positive outcome.
Why is this difference important? And how is it that we are capable of hope in even the most difficult circumstances? Far from a fluffy emotion, hope can be understood as a necessary survival mechanism developed over millennia of evolution and development. For our earliest ancestors, each day presented a struggle for survival in harsh environments. An early human who believed they would not be able to find food or shelter would most likely give up. Those with hope, on the other hand, could see a chance of success that propelled them to keep trying and pushing and experimenting. And here we see the feedback loop: those who believed in the possibility of success were more likely to act, and those who acted were more likely to experience success.
Maintaining hope is far from easy. There is an illusion of safety in cynicism and avoidance, a feeling of protection from unmet expectations. The paradox, of course, is that when we don’t dare to act, we deny ourselves the possibility of success and progress. In our world of immense problems, anxieties, conflicts, and divisions it can seem naïve to allow ourselves hope. But hope that incorporates an acknowledgement of realities and challenges might be the most powerful tool we have. Focus on one action you can take that has a possibility of moving toward a better future and start your own feedback loop. Rather than a simple feeling, hope is a skill that can grow stronger with practice.
Taking inspiration from Dr. Goodall, let us work to cultivate hope. This deeply human trait, reminding us that we can work to shape the future, has helped us through difficulties for thousands of years. No matter how insurmountable our current problems may seem, cultivating and practicing hope is as necessary as ever.
Marcia Mofson, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist