"I am stuck like a dope with a thing called hope" is a famous lyric from the musical South Pacific. The implication is that hope is unsophisticated or naive. In reality, it is an essential strategy for coping with an inherently dangerous, unpredictable world. Whether we are dealing with inhospitable weather, hostile predators, or other people who want our resources, we have no guarantee that the actions we take or decisions we make will result in our survival. In fact, life often consists of making choices in the moment and hoping that we have made the right decision.

Of course, we as humans complicate the process by second-guessing our choices, worrying about our own mortality, and thinking about abstract concepts such as truth and justice. When things are going well for us, we validate our decisions and assume we are in control of our future. But when things aren’t going our way, we can get discouraged. In some people, this leads to avoidance of the things they fear. Others become debilitated by indecision, anxiety, or helplessness, while still others use cynicism to protect themselves from disappointment.

None of these responses are adaptive. Instead, they make it difficult to move forward to face challenges or achieve the outcomes we desire. This is where hope comes in. Hope is not a........

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