Why not choose hope?
“I don’t want to get my hopes up.”
‘Don’t get your hopes up.”
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. We say it to ourselves. We warn others. We don’t want to feel too excited or get too happy because what if it doesn’t work out? You might be disappointed? So, if that is true, we shouldn’t get excited about something that might happen and feel joy and happiness about it. We should feel what exactly? Neutral? Numb? Pessimistic? What exactly are we protecting ourselves from? And, is there really a benefit from that protection?
Stamps: Some Thoughts on Resilience
If you follow me on LinkedIn you’ve seen my Thursday Good News Round Up. If you’ve never seen it, I ask followers to share their good news and small victories so we can celebrate each other. People often ask me why I started it. It began as a reaction to how I felt—and what I noticed many were feeling—while going through an unexpected layoff in February 2025. I felt despondent, afraid, and heartbroken watching the career I loved unravel, and the senseless destruction of pretty much everything devoted to the greater good. I couldn’t imagine how I’d get back on my feet. The Good News Round-up started as a way for me to pause, reflect, and feel connected to community. I needed a reminder that even in the worst times there are glimpses of beauty, moments of awe, and the levity of joy. Small steps and tiny victories are building blocks of hope that build confidence and move us forward. They make us resilient. I know this from experience.