The Hope QuotientSample

Sometimes, discouraging circumstances drop out of nowhere. Most discouraging circumstances that have hit my life I never saw coming. They always come from one of three sources: 

1. Circumstances. Stuff happens: financial stuff, health stuff, relationship stuff 

2. Other people. Something negative or hurtful hits you 

3. Me. My main source of discouragement is myself 

In the Old Testament story, Queen Jezebel was outraged that Elijah’s God defeated her false prophets. She screamed that she would kill Elijah. When people lose hope, we tend to do what Elijah did. Deeply discouraged, he made things worse by doing five destructive things in rapid succession: 

1. He made rash decisions 
2. He ran from responsibility 
3. He blamed others 
4. He lost perspective 
5. He gave up 

All five of these responses resonate with me. I wish that Elijah and I were exceptions, but I know we’re not. Chances are, random circumstances will shatter the calm of your life. How do you deal with it? Build hope. 

Becoming a person with hope is always a result of raising seven hope factors. Here’s “The Seven”: 

1. Recharge your batteries. Nobody does well running on empty. 
2. Raise your expectations. Life really can be far greater than anything you’ve known. 
3. Refocus on the future. Don’t look back; concentrate on what you can become. 
4. Play to your strengths. Be yourself; everyone else is taken. 
5. Refuse to go it alone. Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto. 
6. Replace burnout with balance. Variety refreshes, restores, and reenergizes. 
7. Play great defense. Learn to respond to bad news in great ways. 

Think Up: 

Becoming a person of hope is a great goal. 

How can you learn to use The Seven to build hope? (Read on).