HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY..

This week, I want to talk to you about how hope is not a strategy. Whilst it's always very important to remain optimistic and keep faith in the possibility of positive outcomes, relying solely on hope without taking action is just not a sustainable approach to achieving anything in life.

Hope is a beautiful thing, but it should always be complemented actively also with determination, hard work and resilience. Instead of just passively hoping for good things to happen, it’s always crucial for you to practically work towards aspirations. 

Doing this may sometimes involve you setting clear outcomes, developing realistic plans and taking consistent steps towards achieving your desired goals. By then combining your hope with some form of strategic action, you then increase your chances of success and can turn your dreams into reality.

But while it’s important to also combine hope with strategic action, you should never dismiss the value of having hope itself, as hope can serve as a powerful motivator, serve as a source of creativity, or be a basis for your emotional resilience and ability to keep going forward.

Here are some examples:

- Imagine you are a student hoping to get a good grade on a test, but without studying or putting in any effort. While it's great to have hope, without also having some sort of strategic plan for studying and preparing yourself, it's unlikely that hope will materialise into success.

- Imagine you are someone hoping to find a new job, but without actively applying to positions, networking, or improving skills. Hope alone won't land you a job; you need to have a strategy to practically search for opportunities, tailor your resume and prepare for interviews.

- Imagine you are an athlete hoping to win a competition but without practising, training, or focusing on your ability or performance. Whilst having an air of optimism and belief in oneself is always essential here, without a realistic strategy, just hoping to win alone is not enough.

Yet hope is motivating and keeps people going in spite of challenges or setbacks. Without hope, it’s easy to become discouraged and give up. Additionally, hope inspires creativity and innovation, as we are more likely to think outside the box. Hope also encourages us to take risks.

So, this week, remember that, although hope helps you maintain a positive outlook, it shouldn’t be relied on as a sole strategy and it’s very important to always take action, set clear goals and work towards outcomes. Don't just hope for the best, try to practically make it happen!