All of humanity is based upon the notions of what could be, focusing on the future rather than the present. Rarely is anyone truly, wholly satisfied with the life they are living, preferring to think of the time to come as a golden place where their wishes can be fulfilled. This method of thinking, of hoping, is the pinnacle of human nature and is an intrinsic part of society. All revolutionary ideas begin with a farfetched dream, grown from the hope for a better world someday, somewhere. In short, it is a powerful ideal capable of altering history, yet is humble enough to make a difference in anyone’s life.
The most common way people use hope is to generate lists of traits to develop or events that need to happen in order to create a better future for them. It can be as simple as, “I hope it will not rain today,” or as heavy as, “I hope my dream university accepts me.” All of these are fragments and puzzle pieces that can come together to form a bigger picture of someone’s life. Each segment is a key to unlock a brighter world, one where everyone is joyful and everything is just as it should be. Although most people understand not all hopes come to fruition, the wishes still define a person’s individuality and can reveal their inner thought processes and priorities.
Another way hope affects human lives is by alleviating the pain of uncertainty. They stem from a serious reason that sometimes touch on the theme of life and death. For example, when a loved one is ill, people hope for their health and relief of suffering as a way to provide strength to both the patient and themselves. It inspires action with its gravity, and provokes the yearning to fight and survive tough periods of time. In short, this type of hope allows people to keep their chin up and remain calm during crisis situations.
So far, the powers of hope described apply only to certain individuals or a small group of people. However, society as a whole requires the possibility of improvement to continue to function and evolve. Most inventions are the results of wishes for improvement, spawned through mass-demand and necessity. Additionally, in a deeper and more complex way, cultural norms are also products of hopeful thinking turned into action by certain revolutionaries.
As illustrated, hope is a powerful mechanism acting on scales great and small, benefiting the lives of individuals and the global community. Wherever and whenever it exists, it works to generate changes of attitude, inspire strength, and moves the human race forwards towards improvement. The influence and capabilities of hope may be intangible, but they indisputably play a vital role in charting the course of the human race, shining in the back of the mind like a star guiding the way.
