When a new year starts, we hope and we are hopeful. Hope delivers a fresh page to write a renewed story of our life. When a year ends, we are worn to a certain point and reflect on change. Change is invasive and evasive in that it impacts us in many ways yet we choose what we adopt or not.
Each year unfolds and we stand at this crux moment before we enter the final holidays of the year and look forward to a brand new year ahead.
Hope Contains Change
I already talked about how hope is an odd thing in many ways. Hope does lift our eyes and spirit to the horizon ahead, and we need to adjust our view as a year ends and a new one is ahead. Within our hope, we see better days ahead, different opportunities, fresh attitudes to use, and new actions to take.
Hope contains change. The change embraces two aspects. First, we hope the environment we live in, work in will change in more productive, more meaningful ways. Second, we consider new seeds to plant ourselves in hopes we change the way we do certain things and new talents we wish to grow. Hope means we expect change and we drive change.
Our hope washes the mud off the streets of our lives, fills in the potholes, and paints new lines to stay within and new directions to set forth.
Change Contains Hope
As we enter a new year, we begin to implement our changes. Going into January seems like we drop off an edge into a new world and we are uncertain if we can step back up on to the new path we designed within our thoughts. The skies seem darker, the days longer. Our hope for change takes a hit.
If hope is an odd thing, then I am not sure what change is. Change is only something one can do themselves. Change can be – and is – supported by a community of friends, co-workers, and family, but change can only happen by the person needing to adopt a change. And, to be clear, we all need to change in some way, each and every week, month, and year. Change is the only constant to personal growth and achievement.
The reality of change is that the person instigating the change is hoping they can change. What this person may not realize, unfortunately, is there is a community rooting for them and willing to guide them along the way. I believe we all want the best to happen for anyone. However, the person closest to the change cannot see the hope in the surrounding, supporting eyes.
Our eyes need to be open to what the change means for us and for others. Change has challenges (always), and we just need to know we need to sweat a little more to make it happen. Our change is supported by others, more than we imagine. Confidence in our change should grow by this fact.
Each Year, Hope and Change
As this year closes, I reflect on my own hopes and list of changes to make. This past year has blessed me in ways I did not imagine over 360 days ago. Equally, this past year has frustrated me more than I would have imagined. This is life though. Within the frustrations and challenges, energy increases within to do things differently, learn more, and do more.
We cannot control everything that happens, but we can control how we react and act. Within this, the rhythm of hope and change creates a strange, meaningful melody. We need to keep our hope alive. We need to keep our changes alive. We need to lead with hope and change. We need to embrace the community around us.
The rhythm of hope and change creates a strange, meaningful melody.
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We need to take on the year ahead with a refreshed mindset and a durable spirit.
My hope for all of us is to understand the changes we want (need) to make, the corresponding new actions to take, and then enter the new year with a lasting spirit of what is possible.
May your hope and change be well-balanced and purpose-filled in the year ahead!
Hi Jon,
This was an inspiring post my friend, and it got me excited thinking about the new year and all the great possibilities!
I can really appreciate and agree with what you wrote about the person wanting to change having a community of supporters. Therefore, when one decides to change, one needs to take action. However, one is never alone in changing. Many others are on similar paths to us and will be all too willing to help, if only we ask.
I certainly have learnt a lot from your blog this year, Jon and am looking forward to continuing to follow and learn from you in 2014.
Thank you, Hiten. It is great to have a community to share, encourage, and hold each other accountable. I have learned a lot from you as well and look forward to an engaging year ahead! Thank you. Jon
“If hope is an odd thing, then I am not sure what change is – ”
Maybe ‘change’ is that (spiritual) force which tugs at our heart, gently guiding our actions, so they remain aligned with our purpose. When the dream and purpose are big enough, we get the desire to change …
Have a great 2014, Jon. Keep hope and change alive 🙂
A wonderful point, Kumud. Change may be the spirit that stirs within us and we need to capture it and use it to realize our hopes and renewed directions. Have a great 2014 and thank you for all you do. Grateful to have crossed paths. Jon
Lovely post Jon and I so resonate with Hope is Change & Change is Hope.
You bring out a beautiful point is that for us to change we need to want to change and feel the need and that cannot be done without hope and hope creates the resilience
Truly wonderful post Jon
Thank you for your feedback and insights, Lalita. Hope and change are connected and we need to act upon what they bring to us each year. All the best to you in the year ahead. Thank you. Jon
Another wonderful post from you, Jon! You really touched on something that I truly believe…. Yes, each one of us has to want to and be willing to change but truly, change happens through relationships. It’s that community, and individuals within the community that enable us to create and sustain the changes we truly desire. Change is most definitely not only about hope or sheer will.
I sincerely appreciate that you are a part of my personal change journey. You not only spark new ways of thinking but more importantly are an important part of my virtual community. Thank you!
Thank you so much, Alli. Grateful for our community connection and exchanges. Your insights always make me think and consider new ways to do things and lead. Appreciate it!
Community makes such a difference in supporting the change we want to make. The changes starts within but is supported by others as we continue to make the change.
All the best to you in the new year ahead! Thank you. Jon
Jon, I agree that hope and change are intertwined. The year end serves as a marker to pause and reflect on the hopes and dreams that have and haven’t been realized from the start of the year and the adjustments to make going into the new year. As I get older, it surprises me less and less that a year often ends unlike how I hoped it would at at the start of it. Yet, it’s so critical to always keep hope (and dreams) alive, be open to changing accordingly and be flexible enough not to fight the currents of life that may take us on a seeming detour that ultimately leads to growth. I join you in your hope that we all take actions that are ours to take in the new year and never lose sight of what’s possible. Happy Holidays, Jon!
Alice, Thank you for your added insights. I agree. As I get older, each year ends a little differently than I imagined or dreamed but new progress forward always seems to be in the mix. I loved this point by you: “Yet, it’s so critical to always keep hope (and dreams) alive, be open to changing accordingly and be flexible enough not to fight the currents of life that may take us on a seeming detour that ultimately leads to growth.”
All the best to you, Alice, in the new year ahead. Happy Holidays! Jon
Thank you for another thoughtful post, Jon.
I agree with you wholeheartedly that we must always have hope for ourselves and own our personal change. And often times, our greatest strength is defined by our ability to ask for help and turn to our community of friends and loved ones to support us.
Sometimes, we also need to transform hope itself, so that it is no longer about us, but solely for others. The hope we have for others becomes our greatest hope. To heal, to grow, to change, and to find happiness and fulfilment.
Wishing you peace and happiness for 2014, Jon
Audra
Wonderful, important additions, Audra. Rising above just ourselves can change so much more than just us but, in the process, it changes us a lot, too. Well said. Thank you. Wishing you the best in the new year ahead and much joy. Jon
I don’t know why Jon but the word HOPE triggers me, to me it says, we do not have to make a full commitment –
if we hope, we can say we tried.
if we hope, we leave it in the hands of another.
If we hope, then we don’t have to be accountable.
If we hope we are not fully committed.
hope seems half way to action.
I hope this makes sense….
Hope and change is a hard formula.
Action and change is a successful formula.
What do you think?
Lolly
Wonderful addition, Lolly, and I agree. At the intersection of hope and change is action, doing the work necessary to realize our desired changes and pursue our purpose. We cannot just hope our way to change…. much more commitment is required.
Hope lifts us up to what is possible. Change sets a new direction forward. Action gets our hands dirty in doing the work to bring it all together.
Thank you!!
Jon
Love the way you summed it up!
“Hope lifts us up to what is possible. Change sets a new direction
forward. Action gets our hands dirty in doing the work to bring it all
together.”
Perfect!
Lolly
Thanks, Lolly!
Nice post, but there is one item that is questionable.
“We cannot control everything that happens, but we can control how we react and act.”
What can you “control” that happens ? More likely we cannot “control” anything that happens that is the least bit negative, else wise we would not have let it happen. The only thing we can “Control” is our reaction to an event, and then only if we can keep our emotions out of it.
But what do I know.
Agree. We cannot control what happens but we can control how we react. Although challenging to do, we can do it. Thanks so much for your comment.
Great post Jon! This time of year is often when we reflect back and think/evaluate everything that has happened over the past year and ponder the coming year. There is hope in change that brings excitement, wonder and often fear. It is having the courage to move forward that often leads to wonderful discoveries that help us grow as a person. I wish you all the best for 2014!
You are right, Chantal. Making the changes takes courage, along with vulnerability. These elements will reinforce our hope and backbone to make the desired changes. Thank you for your added insights, and all the best to you in 2014. Appreciate all our interactions! Jon