Finding Hope In The Unpredictable

If there is one thing the 2020s have taught us, it’s that we have no idea what is going to happen next week, let alone next year. For many of us, that lack of control is terrifying. We want certainty; we want a roadmap. But since we don't have one, we tend to fill in the blanks with our worst fears. We assume that if we don't know what’s coming, it must be something bad. This 'catastrophizing' is the enemy of hope. It’s a way of trying to control the future by pre-grieving it, but it just ruins the present.

What if we flipped the script? What if the fact that the future is unpredictable means it could also be surprisingly good? Uncertainty isn't just a space for disaster; it is a space for opportunity. It’s the space where you meet someone who changes your life, or where a project you love suddenly takes off. Hope is the willingness to lean into that uncertainty instead of running from it. It is the belief that 'I don't know what’s coming, but I know I have the skills to handle it.' That is a much more powerful stance than pure optimism.

Resilience isn't about knowing the answers; it’s about trusting your ability to figure them out as you go. Think back to all the things you once thought would break you. You’re still here, aren't you? You have a 100% success rate of making it through your hardest days. That is a pretty incredible track record. Use that history as evidence for your future. When the path ahead looks foggy, focus on the few feet of ground right in front of you. You don't need to see the whole mountain to keep climbing.

Embrace the 'maybe.' Maybe it won't be as bad as you think. Maybe you'll find a solution you haven't considered yet. Maybe you're much stronger than you give yourself credit for. Hope lives in the 'maybe.' It’s the spark that keeps the engine running when the lights go out. You have survived every single 'unprecedented' event so far, and you’ll survive whatever comes next too. Keep going, keep trying, and keep your heart open to the possibility of being pleasantly surprised.