Choosing Hope Over Fear: How to Embrace Change in Your Life

Hope and fear are both present in nearly every situation where you're facing change. As you hope for something to come to pass, you simultaneously fear that it may not. The stronger your hope for a particular outcome, the more fear you will feel regarding the opposite conclusion.

Thus hope and fear can trap us in an emotional tug-of-war over our feelings. Understanding that these emotions are opposite sides of the same coin can give us valuable insights into how we can best handle change.

The Lifespan of Hope Vs. Fear

You may feel both hope and fear regarding an upcoming change, whether that's the state of a relationship or the state of the country. While both emotions will remain present to some degree, you can choose which to focus on. The feeling that you give the most attention will impact how you experience the event.

Fear is a great motivator in short-term situations. If you fear an immediate threat to your safety, this can propel you to run further and faster than you might otherwise be capable of. However, hope is more effective in the long-term. If you're trying to survive for weeks in the wilderness, hope will sustain you through this prolonged situation while fear will flash up and burn out before the ordeal is over.

Hope and Fear in Disagreements

Hope and fear are often driving forces in conflict. Fear promotes an aggressive and negative approach. Though points made in this state can be accurate and valid, they also tend to be inflammatory.

In a debate, it's better to change course on your argument and approach it from a sense of hope. Fight for the positive outcomes that you hope will happen, and you're more likely to ignite a sense of compassion and kindness in others, even when they're on the opposite side.

Addressing Hope and Fear for Change

When you're facing a tumultuous change, it's important to consider the hopes and fears that exist on both sides. Understand that a very real fear is present, even in those you disagree with. Though you may view the feared outcome as something positive, recognizing another's fear is a powerful starting point for compassionate negotiations.

When you recognize the fear driving an individual, you can help them flip the situation and focus instead on what they're hopeful for. If you can get to the heart of their hopes, you may find common ground that you can build from. Speaking with a psychic on the issue may help you see both sides more clearly.

Hope Opens the Doors that Fear Shuts

When we approach things through a lens of hope, we can start to see opportunities we might have missed otherwise. When hope is engaged, we are focused on the idea that things can get better from here. This literally keeps us open to things we might not have considered before. Fear puts blinders on our hearts, making it much harder not just to see opportunity when it’s there, but harder to make the effort to jump on it.

Having a positive mindset shift to overcome fear takes patience. That shift doesn’t happen overnight, and you may find that you backslide a little despite your best efforts. It’s important to have self-compassion in times of fear. You can find empowerment through positive affirmations when your ability to hope seems shaky. Try as much as possible to surround yourself with people and situations that naturally bring out positivity in you. Don’t be afraid to say no to the things that will steal your joy and make sure your energetic boundaries are strong. No matter what kind of change is in front of you, managing hope and fear effectively will give you a better chance to get through it and land in a better place.