For some people life is a graveyard of buried hopes. For others, it is the possibilities that motivate a person to achieve a desired outcome, to overcome hardship, to keep trying, to keep hoping despite the small odds of success. What do hopeful people have in common?

First, the hopeful person believes that life will work out, that they¡¯ll solve the problem or overcome the illness, or get through the depression or grief. How is this hopeful mindset created? First, a hopeful person practises positive ¡°self talk.¡± When faced with a stressful situation or hardship, and negative thoughts enter the person¡¯s mind, the hopeful person will tell themselves, ¡°It will work out. I will find a way to conquer, to succeed.¡±

Secondly, despite the adversity, a hopeful person visualizes a positive outcome. For instance, when sick, the person imagines being well again. When out of work, the person envisions being hired by an employer again. When alone, by oneself, the person imagines finding a soul mate.

Thirdly, when the situation is dire, perhaps a person is terminally ill, the dying person focuses their attention on the positive aspects of a grim situation. The person accepts their fate, but chooses to concentrate on the positive conditions in their life. For instance, the dying person might direct his/her attention toward living in the present, putting their affairs in order, spending time with loved ones, fulfilling a dream.

Fourthly, the hopeful person lives in the moment. Instead of being tormented by worry of the future, the person focuses on what he/she can do today to make tomorrow a reality. For instance, the single person who is sitting at home alone on Friday, will combat their loneliness and despair by attending a singles dance or conversing with other single people at an online dating site.

Finally, hopeful people embrace the spiritual or a particular faith. The spiritual person might be an agnostic who doesn¡¯t belong to a particular religion, yet believes in God and an afterlife. The spiritual person might seek wisdom from the spiritual wisdom of all sages. The spiritual person might believe in the philosophy of Buddhism, which includes the belief in rebirth. Or the person of faith is a Christian who attends church, reads the scripture, and prays for hope. Each of these people has a will to believe—which provides comfort. It is the will to believe that answers their questions, that conquers their doubt, which motivates them to hope for the light, when their life is in darkness.