gray wall with word hope in red graffiti

In a world that feels like it's unraveling at the seams, you're not alone in wondering how to cope. Many women are asking, “How do I respond and protect myself and loved ones against the chaos and uncertainty? No doubt environmental activist, Joanna Macy, wondered the same thing during the 1960s Cold War. Her solution was to fight against the prevailing narrative that nuclear war was inevitable. She created her “Work That Reconnects,” which helped people face despair and transform it into collaborative action.[1] Macy understood that fear and grief suffered in solitude could be devastating. In community, however, these same feelings could become fertile ground for authentic hope. Joanna Macy’s life points out an immutable truth: hope is the basis for resilience and rebellion during uncertain times.

What is the True Meaning of Hope?

Many of us think hope is a feeling from the heart, a system of belief, or a spiritual experience. What if hope is all these things and more? In the 1990s Charles Snyder developed Hope Theory, which later became the foundation for Hope Science. The science has revealed that hope is a cognitive process that can be taught, measured, and cultivated.[2] This has tremendous implications for thriving in uncertain times. It means we can harness hope to increase our resilience. It also means that when we adopt hope practices and principles, we are able to become change agents , like Joanna Macy, working for a better future.

red brain with blooming flower white background

The garden where hope grows, according to science, is the human consciousness. This means that a particular mindset is key to enabling us to face adversity and build the future. Studies show that people with high hopes navigate uncertainty more effectively, with research finding that hope correlates with a 40% reduction in symptoms of anxiety and depression. [3]

What is a Hope Mindset?

I think of a hope mindset as a three-legged stool. The legs are three core beliefs and the seat is the underlying principle that every human is born with an innate hope capacity. Here is my version of the three beliefs and the scientific terms in parentheses:

*I believe in myself and my ability to effect positive change (Agency).

*I believe my pursuit of specific goals is meaningful and important for short term growth and long term flourishing (Goals).

*I believe that other people will provide resources and opportunities in support of my efforts to build a promising future (Pathways).

human form with green moss against gray background — Alex Shuper for Unsplash

Hope science researchers call the three legs of the stool agency, goals and pathways. Research shows that when these beliefs are adopted and acted upon, the results are amazing. Hope-based change is a catalyst for building a better future for individuals, families and communities alike. [3]

Hope as the seedbed of change is not new to our age. Hildegard of Bingen, a 12th-century mystic, gifted us with a concept that captures the essence of hope—"viriditas" or "greening power." This medieval visionary saw divine life energy as a vibrant force that brings freshness and vitality to our souls. Despite poor health and a society and religion that oppressed women, Hildegard composed music and wrote extensively on medicine and spirituality. Armed with viriditas energy, she confronted emperors and popes on matters of conscience. Her hope wasn't passive—it was a creative force that allowed her to envision possibilities beyond the constraints of her time. She is credited with saying,

"Even in a world that's being shipwrecked, remain brave and strong." [4]

The Hope Research Center at the University of Oklahoma has documented what Hildegard of Bingen knew back in the 12th century: active, authentic hope is a protective buffer against trauma and adversity.[3] Even in the harshest conditions, hope’s greening power persists, pushing through concrete, emerging from decay, and reaching toward light.

How do I Hope when Life is Difficult?

The answer to this question lies in neuroscience. When we choose hope, our brains actually function differently. Brain regions related to positive emotions and reward behavior show increased activity. Instead of our brain getting trapped in the amygdala's fight-flight-freeze response, hope activates our prefrontal cortex, where planning and creative thinking take place. This shift enhances our mind’s capacity for seeing possibilities where others see problems. It also explains why hope feels like a different state of being - because it literally is.[3] This is good news because it means that simply by practicing hope-centered living, we become hope-centered people. Think of it like building muscles. Muscles grow stronger, not because of wishful thinking or optimistic ideas, but by showing up at the gym on a regular basis. Hope, like strong muscles, is a byproduct of our consistent actions and intentions.

woman with long hair and her head in solar system — Dimitry Berdnyk for Unsplash

Imagination is the heart of hope rebellion.

Just like exercise is the bridge between our actions and building muscle, imagination is the bridge to building hope. When the ground shifts beneath our feet, we have the opportunity to imagine either doom or possibility. When we wallow in worst-case scenarios and doom scrolling, this reinforces the negative thinking loops in the brain related to depression and anxiety. Employing imagination as a creative force takes us in the opposite direction. It invites us to envision solutions that don't yet exist, to dream up ways forward where only walls appear. In her book Hope in the Dark, writer and activist Rebecca Solnit defines hope this way:

"It's the belief that what we do matters even though how and when it may matter, who and what it may impact, are not things we can know beforehand.”[5]

When life is difficult, we begin by casting our imagination into the future and dreaming wildly. This act of trusting an unknown reality unleashes our power in opposition to the forces of darkness and chaos.

When Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on that Montgomery bus in December 1955, she demonstrated hope as rebellion. Her quiet "no" to segregation reverberated through history, not because she believed change would come as a result of her resistance, but because she imagined a future beyond the present.[6] Hers was a silent, simple act, from the margins of society, that lit a match under the civil rights movement.

Rosa Parks embodied the hope trinity—she believed (agency) in her worth, the meaning of her actions (goals), and the power of joining with others who shared her vision for a better world (pathways). When we follow Rosa’s lead, and stand strong on the stool of hope, we enhance our individual and collective capacity to resist darkness and create necessary change.

How can Hope be Sustained?

The ability to endure hard times doesn't come from gritting our teeth harder; it comes from connecting to something larger than our present pain. Dr. Chan Hellman, hope advocate, researcher and author, has been working with trauma survivors for decades. His research shows that even those who have experienced profound adversity can develop robust hope. The key to success is providing the proper support and skills so that survivors can build new ways of thinking.[3] Hope is the source of our strength. It enables us to persevere, despite exhaustion and depletion, because it connects our current suffering to future meaning. It's the difference between treading water to avoid drowning and swimming toward a distant shore.

If you feel like you’re treading water, you are not alone.

The good news is that you can start swimming to a better future today. Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat because she was tired of giving in. She was tired of treading water, and decided to swim forward, despite the risks. To sustain hope we must follow her example.

We are never too old to become hope-centered people.

For six decades I struggled with depression and anxiety related to complex trauma. At sixty, I sought therapy (again) with low hope. My goal was modest: get ADHD support to increase my ability to complete chores. I had no vision for my future beyond day to day survival. To my surprise, therapy and medication opened a portal of possibility in my mind. My imagination came back online while my amygdala settled down. Eventually, I enrolled in a mental health coach training program where I stumbled across hope science. Hope science changed my life. My self-confidence and imagination grew the more I applied hope strategies and beliefs. In just six weeks, I

(1) became certified as an Integrative Mental Health Coach,

(2) designed and launched my Root & Wick Coaching website. and

(3) discovered my passion for partnering with midlife women to cultivate hope-centered lives.

There’s a beautiful irony in my story: after a life time of suffering with severe bouts of depression and anxiety, I have become a hope evangelist. How amazing it is that our deepest wounds can become our greatest gifts to others!

Your Hope Rebellion Begins Here

I hope that you are inspired to begin your own hope rebellion today. One tool I highly recommend is the online Hope Score Assessment. It is a research-based tool that scores your current level of hope and takes just minutes to complete. My test results showed low hope in agency (self-belief). Since then, I have adopted strategies that have raised my hope score. Here is the link: www.hopescore.com.

In addition to taking the assessment, here are three simple acts to begin cultivating hope today:

1.Create a Hope Soundtrack – Music bypasses our analytical mind and speaks directly to our emotional core. Create a playlist that awakens possibility in you. How about calling it “My Hope Rebellion.”

2. Savor Moments – Savoring is deliberately noticing and naming positive moments. This amplifies their impact. When you experience even a tiny flicker of hope, pause and simply say, "This is hope." This helps your brain register and reinforce these experiences.

3. Write a Letter from Future You – Imagine yourself five years from now, writing back to your present self about how things worked out better than you expected. How did the challenges you're facing now eventually lead to growth? What unexpected gifts emerged from this difficult time? Use your imagination.

Remember, rebellions begin with whispers before they become rallying cries. Your home practice might seem small, but its ripples extend far beyond what you can see.

IN OUR CONVERSATION TODAY, we have learned that hope is more than a feeling or belief—it's a revolutionary force. Its power can transform how we navigate life's challenges and create meaningful change in our world. In Part 2 of this series, we will continue our exploration of hope as rebellion and address this important questions:

How can I find hope in the midst of suffering?

How can I help others who are suffering find hope?

Until then, I'd love to hear your thoughts on hope as rebellion. What resonates most strongly with you? Where do you need hope in your life right now? Share in the comments below or reach out directly—your journey matters.

Your Coach and Queen of Hope, Chrissy

NOTES

This post was created with assistance from Anthropic. (2025). Claude.ai (3.7Sonnet) [hybrid reasoning model]. https://claude.ai The final content reflects the author's views, research, and editorial decisions

1. Macy, J., & Johnstone, C. (2012). Active Hope: How to Face the Mess without Going Crazy. New World Library.

2. Snyder, C. R. (2000). Handbook of Hope: Theory, Measures, and Applications. Academic Press.

3. Hellman, C. M., & Gwinn, C. (2017). Hope Rising: How the Science of HOPE Can Change Your Life. Morgan James Publishing.

4. Hildegard of Bingen, "The Book of Divine Works," translated by Nathaniel M. Campbell (The Catholic University of America Press, 2018)

5. Solnit, R. (2016). Hope in the Dark: Untold Histories, Wild Possibilities. Haymarket Books.

6. Parks, Rosa, with Jim Haskins. Rosa Parks: My Story. Dial Books, 1992.