Hope

This week’s Her Growth Collective is all about hope.  I have found hope to be the secret ingredient to handling life’s challenges and maintaining an overall positive attitude.  Hope doesn’t mean I don’t get mad, angry, confused, sad or any number of feelings.  It allows me, as Tina Unrue says, “to use those feelings as an invitation to dig deeper.”  Pain indicates an opportunity for us to grow and discover the parts of ourselves that need some extra care; healing and growth are often born out of pain, but hope is what keeps us moving.

My pastor and I recorded a podcast last week where we wrapped up 2020, reflected on the lessons learned, and looked ahead to 2021. He shared that during the beginning of the pandemic, many people asked him if this could be it, the end of times, the apocalypse.  This led to a fascinating conversation.  Want to know an interesting tidbit about the word apocalypse?  The Greek translation is “to reveal.”  Therefore, when there is an “apocalyptic moment,” something is revealed. 2020 may not be the “end of days” type of apocalypse we all think about when we hear the word, but it was definitely a year of revelations.

The beauty of revelation is that, whether good or bad, more of life is being brought into the light.  What if apocalyptic moments, those that initially feel devastating and destructive, could actually be a new beginning?  What if life can begin again after a revelation and be stronger and healthier than before now that things are in the light?

Have you had an apocalyptic moment?  Was something revealed to you that initially felt harmful but turned out to be a new beginning?  I think the key to surviving apocalyptic moments is hope. When life feels like the end, have hope that it may actually be a new beginning.

If you are interested in hearing the whole episode, comment below and I will let you know when it comes out.  

This post is written in partnership with #HerGrowthCollective, encouraging women to walk the path of self-development together.