At a recent conference, I had the privilege of hearing Chan Hellman speak about the science of hope. Hellman is a professor at the University of Oklahoma and the founding director of its Hope Research Center. His research examines hope as a psychological strength that can help children and adults experiencing trauma and adversity.
One of the most powerful takeaways from his presentation was this: Before people can change or grow, they must first be able to imagine a new reality.
They need to see that something different is possible.
Hellman challenged us to think of hope as a noun, not merely as a verb we use when we wish for something. Hope is not simply a feeling that appears when circumstances are good. It is something we can possess, develop and practice.
That framing matters because we often talk about hope as though it were little more than wishful thinking.