Hope and Optimism
Building and sustaining a shared belief in our capacity to create a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future.
Micro-VCoL Exercises
Below are three exercises for developing hope and optimism. Choose one to focus on for at least a week before trying another.
Exercise 1: The Progress Notice
Train your attention to notice signs of progress and possibility, not just problems and obstacles.
Practice throughout the day, especially when you notice yourself focusing on what is wrong or difficult. Use it at the end of meetings or workdays.
Deliberately ask: "What is going well here? What progress has been made? What signs of possibility exist?" Notice concrete examples, however small. Occasionally share what you notice with others.
What progress or possibility did you notice that you might have overlooked? How did deliberately looking for progress affect your overall outlook?
Exercise 2: The Possibility Expansion
When facing obstacles, deliberately expand your sense of what might be possible rather than narrowing to constraints.
Practice when you or your team encounter setbacks, when problems seem intractable, or when you notice hopeless or resigned language.
When facing an obstacle or setback, pause before responding. Ask: "What might still be possible here?" Generate at least two or three possible responses before deciding none exist.
Were you able to find possibilities you would otherwise have missed? How did looking for possibility affect your response to setbacks?
Exercise 3: The Agency Reminder
When facing daunting challenges, remind yourself and others of the agency and choice that remain available.
Practice when you or your team feel overwhelmed, helpless, or caught in circumstances beyond control.
When helplessness or resignation arises, pause. Ask: "What can we influence here, even if we cannot control everything?" Shift from "We can't..." to "What we can do is..."
Were there moments of helplessness or resignation today? Were you able to identify remaining agency? What is the relationship between acknowledging constraints and maintaining agency?