Reflect

In Buddhist teaching, the opposite of hope isn’t hopelessness; the opposite of hope is fear. It’s our fear, conscious or not, that can cause us to cling tightly to certainty, familiarity, or worn-out ways of thinking. It’s fear that can get in the way of curiosity and genuine interest. But here’s the thing: While we’re standing steadfast in our rightness or comfort, hope becomes more elusive. It’s hard to be hopeful when we’re waiting around for someone else to start looking at things our way. It’s hard to be hopeful if fear has us clinging to the familiar shore. To make space for hope, we have to try to let go of fear. Maya Angelou offers these succinct and powerful words, worthy of adopting as a mantra: “Hope and fear cannot occupy the same space. Invite one to stay.”