Sunday, May 31, 2015

Know #Hope Know Growth




I probably don’t have to tell you, some days, having cancer, chemo, and radiation sucked. Early on, fear and gloom hijacked most of my thoughts. As my family and friends rallied with prayers, support, and encouragement, something pretty amazing happened. I realized I had a choice—let the dread consume me, or one day at a time choose hope.
If cancer taught me anything, it taught me HOPE IS A CHOICE.
In creating this new blog, Know Hope Know Growth, I thought a lot about life being a cycle of ups and downs. For me, hope means continual attitude adjustments to focus on the ups. Hope means noticing and being grateful for the little things, and looking for the opportunity to learn from the downs.
Hope means trusting that while things won’t always turn out the way I want; they will always turn out the way they are supposed to, and that I’ll get what I need to accept what I get when I don’t get what I want.
All of that, and what we learn from the ups and downs, is what I hope we can talk about here.
So, let’s get the conversation going in comments. Do any of my thoughts on hope feel familiar, and what does hope mean to you?

4 comments:

  1. Welcome back to blogging. Carol. I think the title of your blog is perfect for you, someone who has professionally been a counselor to so many people who are striving for personal growth. And then adding your life experiences -- good and bad -- make it even better. I am perpetually optimistic that things happen for a reason and whatever happens, I will be okay. I have down times but I usually can talk myself out of the worst case scenario. Does it always come out roses? Not a chance... but as you suggest, even a bad outcome is a lesson. "Don't do that again, or, what were you thinking? as common self admonitions.

    Let me think a bit more on what hope means to me and I will stop back and comment some more.

    Glad you are back and hope that readers will share their stories of hope and growth.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Chris, thanks for your thoughts about the blog title.
    I suspect Hope comes more naturally to you than to me. For me, it feels like I have an over-developed worry gene and it's work almost every day to refocus on the positive...and it's worth the work.
    thanks for sharing your comment
    carol

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hope is a choice - I love that. Glad to see you're blogging again. I've missed your writing voice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Julie. I've missed it too :)
      glad to hear from you.
      best,
      carol

      Delete