H.O.P.E. = Hold On. Pain Ends.
Hold on. Pain Ends. This acronym for the word hope is also such a great definition of what it means to have hope. Having hope means having faith that whatever difficulties or challenges you’re going through now will eventually end. But holding on is not easy at times. We naturally get impatient and feel like we cant hang in there much longer. However, just the mere understanding that the pain will end–or at least diminish–makes it easier to hold on. So next time you feel completely hopeless, remember to hold on. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel.
“Whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go, just remember how far you have come. Remember everything you have faced, all the battles you have won, and all the fears you have overcome.”
Sometimes what lies before us seems more frightening than what we’ve already overcome. However, it may not necessarily be more challenging than what we’ve already gone through. The only difference between the battles we’ve won and the battles before us is the unknown. This quote, by N.R. Walker, is about making how far you’ve come serve as inspiration for what lies ahead. You may not know the outcome, but if the past is any indication, you will get through–just as you’ve gotten through all the things that led you to this point.
“The greatest mistake we make is living in constant fear that we will make one.”
It’s one thing to be afraid of making a mistake. Being afraid of messing up is a natural feeling when you want to do something well. However, when that fear is constant and preoccupying, it becomes unhealthy. This quote, by John C. Maxwell, reminds us of that. It reminds us that living with a constant fear of making a mistake is one of the greatest mistakes we can make. It’s a mistake that can make us shy away from difficulties and challenges and prevent us from taking chances or trying new things. So, instead of having a constant fear of making a mistake, it’s best to understand that mistakes are…
“What we do today, right now, will have an accumulated effect on all our tomorrows.”
Imagine yourself hiking up a mountain. Chances are, it will take an innumerable number of steps to make it to the top. However, one thing is guaranteed. No matter how long it takes or how painful it gets, each step gets you further up. This illustration brings to mind Alexandra Stoddard’s quote, “What we do today, right now, will have an accumulated effect on all our tomorrows.” Imagine each step up the mountain as the actions you take each day. Every action that brings about positive change will only carry you upward. Therefore, you’ll be further tomorrow than you were yesterday because each step (i.e. action) is accumulative, adding to…
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“The greatest mistake we make is living in constant fear that we will make one.”
“There is no such thing as a ‘self-made’ man. We are made up of thousands of others. Everyone who has ever done a kind deed for us, or spoken one word of encouragement to us, has entered into the make-up of our character and of our thoughts, as well as our success.”
PositLive Music: “Fight Song”
“Fight Song” Written by: Rachel Platten and Dave Bassett Released: February 19, 2015 Less than a year before this song’s release, singer-songwriter, Rachel Platten, was struggling to make it in the music industry. However, she found the strength to go on, as expressed in this song (Source). In short, it’s a song about hope and perseverance. Rachel recalls her struggle saying, “Ten months ago I was on a house concert tour in a van playing to like twenty or thirty people a night…I wrote the song when I was going through such a hard time, and I needed to remember to believe in myself” (Source). Select PositLive Music: Lyrical Playlist…
“Try a thing you haven’t done three times. Once, to get over the fear of doing it. Twice, to learn how to do it. And a third time to figure out whether you like it or not.”
You may have heard inspirational quotes and messages about stepping out of your comfort zone, not being afraid to take risks, and trying something new. However, the unspoken assumption is to try that new thing once. This quote, by Virgil Thomson, challenges us to try something new not once but three times. “Once, to get over the fear of doing it. Twice, to learn how to do it. And a third time to figure out whether you like it or not.” Perhaps we don’t have to do so exactly three times. There are many instances where once is enough. The bottom line is to not be quick to decide whether…
PositLive Music: “You Gotta Be”
“You Gotta Be” Written by: Des’ree (born Desiree Weeks) and Ashley Ingram Released: March 28, 1994, Re-released February 27, 1995, 1999 Mix–March 22, 1999 According to singer-songwriter, Des’ree, this song came about after reflecting on how she would stop herself every day to think about how she has to be. (Source). The music video is in black and white, and it plays with those colors–in a way, highlighting the juxtaposition in how we’re sometimes forced to feel and act. “You have to be cool and calm in [one] situation, and then you have to be bold and strong in another situation,” Des’ree noted. The parent album is about “having the…
PositLive Music: “Keep Your Head Up”
“Keep Your Head Up” Written by: Andy Grammer Released: February 24, 2011 Andrew Grammer wrote this song at the beginning of his professional music career. It was written after a long day in the streets, trying to sell his album with little success. It was meant to be a pep talk to himself to not give up–to keep his head up. Ironically, the song he wrote in this low point in his career would end up launching his career. The song was a personal note to himself. However, the message applies to all of us. In those moments when we’re downtrodden, feeling hopeless, or struggling to make ends meet, let…
“If you’re stuck in a puddle, it means there’s higher ground all around you. You just have to step onto it.”
This quote, by Emilyann Girdner, reminds us to not lose hope whenever we feel stuck in a rut. It’s like being stuck in a puddle. But if there’s anything you can guarantee about puddles, it’s the fact that they don’t carry on forever. There’s a point where the puddle ends because there’s always higher ground surrounding it that forms the puddle in the first place. So when we find ourselves stuck in life’s puddles, all we have to do is keep moving forward. Eventually we’ll not only come out of it but experience a bit of growth–because we’re standing a bit taller than before.
“Don’t compare yourself to others. Be like the Sun and the Moon and shine when it’s your time.”
The Sun is about 400 times larger than the Moon at 1.4 million km across versus the Moon’s 3,474 km across. The Sun is also 27 million times greater in mass than the Moon (Source). Sometimes we compare ourselves to others, like the Moon in comparison to the Sun. We perceive another person’s light as shining brighter–bigger–better. However, despite the Sun’s greater size and mass, its orientation in the solar system makes it look to be the same size as the Moon when viewed from Earth. Furthermore, the Moon, despite its much smaller size in the solar system, entirely blocks the Sun during solar eclipses. And while the Sun is…
