Hope is a construct in psychology that describes how people get from where they are to where they want to be. It is intricately linked to words like “resilience,” “grit,” and “positivity.” It creates a bridge between a person’s dreams and their fulfillment. Hope enables people to choose goals and pursue them to a happy conclusion. There are two components of hope: the ability to select pathways that lead to success and the motivation to do the work to get there. The recent Democratic convention showcased three strong women who demonstrate hope in action.
Kamala Harris. How far have we come! The first female of color to be nominated to the office of President by a major political party. She is leading in the polls. From one perspective, she is a reason to fear: a left-wing, nation-breaking apocalypse in the making. But others see a reason to hope that we might be taking one step closer to realizing the ideals of equality for all people no matter their race, gender or origin. Harris is the daughter of immigrants. The proof that who we are is more important than how we look. That is hope writ large. When we bash the immigrant, we defame the memories of our ancestors. Eleanor Roosevelt once said: “Remember, remember always, that all of us, … are descended from immigrants and revolutionists.”
Amanda Gorman is America’s first youth poet laureate. She was born prematurely and worked tirelessly to overcome a speech impediment. She graduated cum laude from Harvard University. Ms. Gorman is proof positive that disability is not destiny. Her reading during the Democratic convention reminds us that hope begins within our souls and overflows to others. She asserts that to be a patriot, we must both love the concept of our country and act in love toward others. We exercise patriotism when we volunteer at the Food Basket, the Soup Kitchen, or the Humanitarian Center. Serving in the armed forces is not the only way of showing love for a country and its people. Displaying a “Don’t tread on me” sticker on your truck is a warped vision of this concept.
Michelle Obama needs no introduction. She exemplifies the concept that hope without action quickly fades. Her admonition to “do something” translates hope from mental exercise to physical reality. When we act, we enhance our community, decrease loneliness and improve our sense of wellbeing. “Do something” translates what is in our heads into the stuff that makes the world.
The first part of hope is to dream. Dream of an America where people, regardless of external characteristics, can build a life of value. The second part of hope takes those dreams and says: “What can I do? How can I help?” So, share your hope by getting out there. Join your dream to action so that all of us acting together can build an America we are all proud of.
Todd DeVries is a mental health professional and serves as the state committeeman for the Bonneville County Democratic Central Committee.