In times of great sadness and struggle, it can be challenging to remain hopeful. Finding peace within yourself or between people fighting each other may feel impossible. However, if we lose hope, the possibilities path closes.

Even in the darkest times, hope exists. It’s up to you to nurture hope and the belief that things can improve. This is especially needed now for our world.

You can also channel messages of hope and encouragement to inspire what’s possible for you. If you feel stuck, sad, and are struggling to move forward, soak in these words of wisdom from three incredible people. What will be possible for you?

3 Inspiring Messages of Hope that Encourage Possibilities

1. “Choose a better thought. Choose a better action.”

Marcy Stoudt, Revel Coach founder, encourages us to see the connection between our thoughts and actions. Are your thoughts leading you in a positive direction or paralyzing you before you begin? What you think affects what you do or don’t do.

It’s time to reframe if negative thoughts don't support positive actions. Positive thoughts will pave the way for actions with better outcomes.

What thought can you rework? How will that influence what is possible?

2. “Find the fascinating in every day.”

Christine Gray Johnson, Nest by Revel Advisor and HR expert, motivates us to find joy and hope daily. She understands that what you focus on greatly influences your day. A curiosity-based lens can help you see opportunities and possibilities. Christine advocates paying attention to what is “fascinating.” What do you find captivating, interesting, attractive, alluring, or engaging?

Develop an awareness of things big and small to stimulate curiosity. Reading a new word or phrase or seeing the beautiful changing colors of the fall landscape can be catalysts. The search for the fascinating can become a positive disruptor in your life. Discovery encourages openness, new ways of thinking, opportunities, and possibilities and fosters hope.

“If we lose hope, the possibilities path closes.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

3. “We miss out on opportunities when we only ask what could go wrong. It’s also worth asking what could go right. Change carries risk: we might fail. But sticking to the status quo also brings risk: we might fail to grow. It’s better to test and learn than to never test at all.”

Adam Grant, organizational psychologist and best-selling author, highlights the connection between opportunity, risk, change, and growth. When a possibility appears, do you focus on adverse outcomes? Does that make it difficult for you to lean in? Or do you also weigh the potential positive outcomes? Adam isn’t advocating that you ignore the risks. He is aware that any change has risks and can result in failure. But the more significant risk is never stepping out or growing.

What becomes possible when you consider the what-could-go-right-and-wrong-factors with the growth mindset lens? Does risk-taking feel different?

When negativity fills your mind, everything feels dark and impossible. The light will turn on by changing your thoughts, focus, and attitude toward risk. Opportunities, possibilities, and hope will flourish. What is possible for you? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

One of the treasures of being human is our capacity for thought. Ideas that visit your mind can become seeds for creating marvelous inventions or provocative works of art. Your thoughts can turn into action for self-change or positive advances in the world. Thoughts can foster compassion for people in distress or motivate you forward.

What happens when you have unhelpful thoughts? Have you ever engaged in negative self-talk, unnecessary doubt, self-sabotaging thoughts, or word loops that keep you stuck? I have and so have many of my clients. It’s not productive or helpful, but it is a common human experience.

Years ago, I traveled to Austin for an organizing conference. During one of the breaks, I walked into town and discovered this message spray-painted onto the side of a building. It said, “We don’t say fried. We say, deep sauté.” Talk about a reframe! Some of you will agree that eating fried foods isn’t the healthiest choice. Saying “deep sauté” instead doesn’t make the food more nutritious, but it immediately changes my perspective to something more positive. That is the power of the reframe.

While I’m not encouraging you to eat more fried or deep-sauteed foods, I suggest you use this concept to adjust your negative self-talk and other unproductive thoughts.

Let’s test some out.

Instead of:                                          Use:

I’ve never been organized.                 I’m learning to get organized.

My clutter is overwhelming.               I am decluttering a little bit each day.

I don’t know how to get organized.   I will reach out for organizing help.

I’m not good enough.                         I am enough.

I have so much to do.                         I get to focus on what is most important.

“One of the treasures of being human is our capacity for thought.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

What are some of the negative, self-sabotaging thoughts you have? What are alternate reframes? Does it help you think differently by changing your perspective? Your mind can be channeled in many ways.

The next time you’re going down the adverse rabbit hole, stop. Reframe and adjust your thoughts in a more supportive direction. If you need help reframing and activating, I’m just a phone call or email away. I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to reach out and/or join the conversation.

This time of year in the northeast, the daily changes outside are visible. Aside from the temperatures dropping, which means it’s now scarf and glove weather, the landscape transforms too. Each day I notice more leaves turning yellow, orange, red, or brown. Some have already dropped to the ground. In another few months, a starker landscape will be here. But for now, color dots my view and nudges me to embrace change and lean towards what’s possible.

What makes you take action? There is a pattern I’ll call Thought-Motivation-Action Cycle (TMA), which I’ve observed and experienced. Thought, followed by motivation, turns into action. The undercurrent for this change cycle is a belief that what you want to accomplish is possible.

Thought

The thought is an idea, rumination, or possibility. This can percolate in your mind for a long time without gaining traction. It’s a place many of us get stuck. Then, something will happen, providing motivation to turn that thought into action.

Motivation

Motivation can be internally driven by your response to a significant life event, having enough information, or having the time and focus for activation.  External motivation can happen through accountability to someone, partnering, or having a deadline. Think of motivation like a match pressing the striker and igniting. That tiny spark changes everything.

Action

The flame encourages a small action step, then another, and another. It feels tremendous to be doing and not just thinking about doing. Each action encourages more progress and forward movement.

“The undercurrent for this change cycle is a belief that what you want to accomplish is possible.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

When clients initially contact me, they often mention they’ve been thinking about getting organized or asking for help for ages. I ask what prompted their call, which helps me gain insight into their motivation. With those two parts of the TMA cycle clarified, we focus on specific actions and make progress towards their goals.

Have you experienced the TMA cycle? What have you observed? As the season cues you for change, what feels possible? I’d love to hear your thoughts and invite you to join the conversation.