`Healthy Hope can make a difference in how we live'

Hope is when you take “what is” and project “what can be,” but not all hope is equal, according to Dr. Wendy Schlessel Harpham. Harpham is a doctor of internal medicine, a 28-year cancer survivor, author of eight books and mother of three children.

Working with her patients, she has seen seven kinds of hope. Wishful thinking. Blind hope. Empty hope. False hope. Realistic hope. Faithful hope. Healthy hope.

Wishful thinking is built on fantasy. It can bring relief, comfort, and inspiration, but if you are wishing for worrisome symptoms to go away on their own instead of reporting them to your doctors, it is a hope that can hurt you.

Blind hope is an unquestioning belief in someone or something based on unearned trust. It allows you to let go of responsibility and feel completely hopeful for whatever it is you want. The problem is it leaves no room for doubts or questions and can lead you away from a truth that could help heal you.

Empty hope is the appearance of hopefulness for others' benefit, a facade not supported by genuine feelings.

False hope is an unfounded expectation. You can direct your attention and energy toward the false hope, but that means your attention and energy are unavailable for pursuing goals within reach.

Realistic hope is belief in the possible. Since it is based on facts, realistic hope is strong.

Faithful hope is the belief in something that is beyond your control and unable to be tested or proven, however, Harpham says you can let go and take control at the same time, as expressed in the ancient Jewish saying, “Pray as if everything depends on God, and act as if everything depends on you.”

Realistic hope and faithful hope form the foundation of what Harpham calls Healthy Hope.

Healthy Hope can make a difference in how we live each day during this pandemic. Give it some thought.