Let’s talk about hope and how it is able to inspire us. What is it about stories of hardship, overcoming and survival that are so inspirational to us? In order to talk about hope though, we must also talk about resilience, adversity and survival as they all go hand in hand.

Resilience is the ability to bounce back and continue on with strength and purpose. It’s the mindset that no matter what happens, you won’t be defeated. Resilience develops through a combination of personal characteristics, supportive relationships, and environmental factors. Resilience isn’t something that you’re born with, but rather something that you develop over time. It’s a skill that can be learned, and you can strengthen it through practice and perseverance. It’s important to remember that resilience isn’t about being invincible, but rather being able to bounce back when things get tough. It’s about having the courage to keep going even when the road ahead is uncertain.

Survival is also a crucial component of hope. It is an instinctual drive to continue living, even in the face of overwhelming adversity. Humans have been known to survive incredible circumstances, from losing an arm in a shark attack to surviving extreme conditions in a war zone. The will to survive can be strengthened by developing skills such as self-defense, first aid, and wilderness survival. Additionally, having a strong support system can also increase one’s chances of survival. This is shown especially through Bethany Hamilton, a surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack. Using her love for surfing, her support network and her incredible perseverance, she not only survived the shark attack but went on to become a pro surfer.

Finally adversity is the challenges and hardships that we face in life. They are the situations that create an environment to cultivate skills like resilience and survival and to give us hope to push through the difficult moments in life.

Stories of hope and survival are like guidebooks to us. They are inspirational and teach us that we are capable of overcoming adversity and turning any circumstance into a strength. When we are facing hard times they provide a comfort to know that we are not alone.