We all experience times when life hands us lemons: when a difficult situation grows out of proportion; or an event makes life seem hopeless. The renowned writer and business guru, Dale Carnegie, gave us this famous recipe for hope: "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade…”.

            The caregiving journey can be long and arduous. Hope is the emotion that illuminates silver linings in the dark clouds that hover. It is a powerful motivator that supports us in time of despair and makes us believe in possibilities. Hope is not wishful thinking that ignores the severity of a problem; instead, it gives us the courage to act upon it and succeed. Hope is born of the desire for - and the belief in - change.

In his book, The Anatomy of Hope, Dr. Jerome Groopman defines hope as "…the elevating feeling we experience when we see – in the mind's eye – a path to a better future. Hope acknowledges the significant obstacles and deep pitfalls along the path. True hope has no room for delusion…hope gives us the courage to confront our circumstances and the capacity to surmount them."

Expecting positive results and believing they will happen are the basic elements of hope. Time and again this has been proven by the placebo effect: unknowingly, a placebo (fake drug) is given to someone who ends up experiencing the effects of the real drug.

Not surprisingly, there is a spiritual connection to hope. People with strong faith and religious beliefs tend to remain hopeful in stressful times. They believe they are not alone in their struggles and rely on a higher power. Those whose spiritual health is ailing suffer greater emotional pain. They see the glass as half empty and despair that now is forever; feeling isolated and abandoned. Hope is also a learned behavior. People who grow up in hopeless environments tend to avoid risking hope. They may use the word but believe the worst is inevitable. They can, however, learn the skill of hopefulness.

Hope is an important coping skill that spurs us onto action to find meaning in tragedies and seek solutions to problems. An active way to rekindle and sustain hope is to talk to others. Support groups are known for their ability to generate and nurture hope. They provide a venue for sharing emotions, experiences, and tips on how to handle seemingly hopeless situations. The services of a mental health professional are invaluable for those suffering from depression – a state of pronounced hopelessness. And the guidance of a spiritual leader can help make sense of the “whys?”

Mind exercises, like word association games, can stimulate hopeful feelings that promote self-care. Take for example the word "smell". What kind of hopeful image and/or feeling do you associate with it? Is it “cookies” and the memory of baking them in anticipation of Christmas as a child? Or is it “coffee” and the peaceful smell of it brewing on a quiet morning before the household wakes? How about the word "sound"? Does it trigger an image of the Good Humor truck and feelings of excitement on a hot summer day; or the singing of cicadas on a lazy August afternoon? Indulge in a few minutes of quiet time each day to experience hopeful feelings words such as these create for you: sound, smell, event, person, peace, and smile.

Hope is not the end-all for the misfortunes in the journey of life. It is, however, the guiding light at the end of the tunnel. As Wendy Edy of the Hope Foundation of Alberta says, "A journey guided by hope is more manageable than a journey with no guide at all."