Can you have success without hope?

Can you have success without hope?

You can have success. The outward indicators, the achievements, the acknowledgments, the status, the job title, the car, the bank balance — whatever. You can HAVE that.

But you can’t be successful without hope.

To be a successful human being, moving in the world, breathing, living — having success, and even pursuing success — hope is fundamental.

I say this because I’ve been hopeless — suicidal, homeless, addicted, abused, psychotic. I know how deeply necessary hope is for survival.

Hope is necessary not just to survive, but also to thrive.

Thrive = being successful.

We need hope that things will turn around. Hope that things will change. Hope that the situation will improve. Hope that we can be better.

If you have those success markers, but have no hope — for whatever reason — you can’t BE successful. In life, as a human being.

If we lack hope, we won’t feel fulfilled or satisfied with our achievements. We’ll feel empty and unfulfilled. We walk around like zombies — half empty. “Supposed to be” happy, and “should be” happy have corrosive effects on mental and emotional well-being.

Moving through the world without hope is like breathing in chalk every moment of every day. You can never get a moment’s peace, you can never feel rested, and you can never feel whole.

Can you truly achieve greatness without any optimism whatsoever? Can you ever truly succeed without hope? I don’t think so.

Success without hope is HARD.

You are not defined by difficult circumstances. But when you’ve been truly knocked down, resilience feels impossible.

Getting back up after defeat is HARD.

Some of us get up reflexively, but most people stay in the dirt — at least for a while.

We are not defined by our hardship. And yet, we are defined by hardship. It’s an interesting paradox, duality, dialectical.

The inner spark of humanity and hope is fundamental — no matter the external circumstances. Sometimes life steals hope from us for a while.

Recapturing lost hope is HARD.

Reigniting fizzled hope is HARD.

The journey toward success is filled with challenges, setbacks, and failures. As is life. That’s just the name of the game.

Hope is what can keep us going in the face of those obstacles. Hope is the light that shines in the darkness, reminding us that there is always a way forward.

Without hope, giving up on our dreams and aspirations feels acceptable. Giving up on ourselves feels acceptable. We lose the motivation to keep moving forward, and success seems unattainable.

Without hope, we feel lost, anxious, and depressed. This has a tremendously detrimental effect on our ability to succeed in all areas of our lives.

So, whether you’re on your way to “success,” the magical destination kingdom where you’ll finally be happy (fallacy)…

Or, whether you’ve reached the glorious “success” finish line, where you reached the top of the hill, and finally grabbed the ring…

EITHER WAY — hope is necessary.

If you’re on your way up, hope is needed to keep going.

If you’re at the top, hope is needed to keep going.

Aaand, if you’re in the dirt, hope is needed to keep going. To rise. To shift. To change. To grow. To continue. To keep breathing.

Sometimes hope isn’t just personal, but also the hope for bigger ideas. We are individuals nested within other circles: family, friends, community, society, planet, etc.

The belief that things can be better is fundamental to humanity. The belief that we can make a difference in our own lives and the lives of others.

Without hope, we become stagnant, complacent, and resistant to change. We stop pursuing our goals and dreams.

Losing hope, lost hope, stolen hope, giving up, the F-it mentality — all of these are poison in their own way. They’re all a little different. And they all require slightly different antidotes.

Hope is our foundation. Our bedrock. Our touchstone.

Without hope, we’re unstable, chaotic, and deeply troubled (or numb, but that’s deeply troubled wearing a different outfit).

Excellence requires hope. Well-being requires hope. Life requires hope.

Hope is the essential ingredient for success. It is what drives us forward, gives us purpose and direction, and helps us navigate the challenges of life.

Without hope, success may seem unattainable, and we may lose the resilience to keep moving forward.

Without hope, achievements, accolades, and the fancy things feel hollow and utterly meaningless.

(Because maybe they are meaningless without hope…?)

Genuine fulfillment and happiness grow from the seed of hope. Hope is a precious thing. So, keep it safe. Protect it. Water it, nourish it. Shine sunshine all the time. Let us all cultivate hope in our lives and continue to strive for success with a positive mindset and an open, hopeful heart.

///

✨ Like this article? You’ll like my Emails of Awesomeness list. The name says it all.

Message me or check out my website for more info on Holistic Brain-Based Healing and luxury neuro experiences. 🦄 I love connecting with COOL people. Must be cool. 😎

Follow me on LinkedIn, or read more of my articles with BRAINZ Magazine.

I sincerely hope you have a WONDERFUL DAY 💖 ✨