An invitation to choose defiant hope

Reasons to be hopeful: 1,2,3...

Photo by Lukas

I believe in what I call ‘defiant hope.’ This is not blind faith or passive optimism; it’s about waking up every morning and—despite all evidence to the contrary—choosing to believe a better world is possible and then taking steps to bring that world about.

The problem is that your brain has an in-built negativity bias, designed to keep you safe, and media outlets disproportionately report bad news. All of which can leave you (and me!) feeling like the world is a bad place and there’s nothing we can do to change that.

So, this new weekly round-up of reasons to be hopeful is my attempt to counter that, to reconnect you with the good out there and to support you in choosing hope.

If you want more, sign up for my short course ‘Cultivating Hope’, which will help you to move through feelings of hopelessness, reconnect with the natural world and find the positive changes that you will actually enjoy bringing about.

Reasons to be Hopeful: 1,2,3…

1. Indigenous leaders from the Amazon have journeyed to the UK’s Dartmoor in an act of global solidarity for rainforest restoration.

“Staff from the Woodland Trust were joined by representatives from communities including the Asháninka and Guarani in Buckland Wood, a 100-hectare (247-acre) swathe of temperate rainforest in Devon’s Dart Valley.

The trust has announced a £2.8m appeal to buy the forest and fund its restoration. The habitat is one of two locations in the UK that are home to an internationally rare lichen, and has the potential to support threatened species such as bats, otters and dormice.”

»» Via Positive News: Read more »»

2. Scientists in Singapore have developed a new paint that ‘sweats’ to keep homes cool

“Scientists in Singapore have developed a new type of paint that reflects sunlight and cools surfaces by slowly evaporating water. Unlike other commercially available cooling paints which are designed to repel water to protect the underlying material, the new one even works in hot, humid places, offering a low-energy way to stay cool, researchers report.”

»» Via Science News: Read More »»

3. The brilliant OnBeing Project is offering a six-week reflection/course experience curated by Krista Tippett called The Hope Portal.

“Drawing on her conversations with several visionary humans: adrienne maree brown, Naomi Shihab Nye, Ocean Vuong, Joy Harjo, Joanna Macy, and Ross Gay. Kirsta extends rich and actionable invitations for a muscular, reality-based hope. They offer ways of seeing and living to lay our hands and our hearts, our imaginations and life force on the generative possibilities of life in this time.”

“[This orientation of hope] looks reality in the face and it refuses to accept that things have to be this way, and then […] throws one’s intelligence, one’s energy, one’s persistence, one’s creativity and courage behind this insistence.’

»» Via The Pause: Read more »»

Seth Godin said that ‘spreading the word about the superstars is far more likely to change the culture,’ so let me know in the comments what’s got you feeling optimistic this week and let’s change the world for the better.

Stay curious, imperfect and defiantly hopeful,