Hope is Not an actual Plan

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Having hope is essential in life as it hugely contributes to our happiness, well-being and levels of motivation. It allows us to see what's possible and even helps us better cope with adversity and hardship when these things are thrown in our path. 

However, hope alone is not enough. 

Hope can get the steam engine rolling, but so much more is needed to build and sustain true momentum in our lives. 

The dictionary definition of hope is this: 

~a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen

Turning our hopes into reality requires effective planning and sound strategy. 

Plans are intentions or decisions about what a person is going to do. Strategy is a plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim.

As you can see, there is a big difference between hope and strategy/planning. 

It is human nature to hope for happiness, joy, fulfillment and well-being in our lives. Or to hope for a promotion, improved physical fitness, or better relationships. We can hope that our managers or bosses see and value us. We can hope that those who lead us will see our worth and contribution. But, is simply hoping for these things enough? 

Conversely, leaders can hope that the people that work under them will do their best to be productive and impactful. They can hope that those who they lead will take initiative and be motivated to show up as their best selves each day. But again, is simply hoping enough?

Planning and strategy are imperative. Having clear intentions and making a conscious effort to check in with these intentions is a must. Creating strategies that help us move toward our intended goals requires deep commitment and consistency in regards to our actions. Precision, clarity and transparency are also critical components within this process. 

Bearing this in mind, here are a few questions for you to consider:

How often are you checking in with your daily intentions and goals?

​To what extent do you strategize when it comes to turning your hopes into reality?

How clear are your goals and your strategies in the first place? 

How are you communicating, from an authentic place, what these goals and strategies are with those who matter most? 

Thanks for reading.