[Bearygood]

I was reminded to post this because of a thread in the front room but I've been meaning to share this since I found it a few weeks back.

I came across this quote on the internet and it really resonated with me. I had NO idea at the time that the book it's from, "The Anatomy of Hope", is actually a book about dealing with illness! I feel like this quote can speak to so many life situations, not just illness, but finding out the source gave it extra meaning. I hope you find it as meaningful as I do and if anyone has read the book, please let us know your thoughts!

"Hope is one of our central emotions, but we are often at a loss when asked to define it. Many of us confuse hope with optimism, a prevailing attitude that 'things turn out for the best.' But hope differs from optimism. Hope does not arise from being told to 'think positively,' or from hearing an overly rosy forecast. Hope, unlike optimism, is rooted in unalloyed reality. Hope is the elevating feeling we experience when we see--in the mind's eye--a path to a better future. Hope acknowledges the significant obstacles and deep pitfalls along that path. True hope has no room for delusion. Clear-eyed, hope gives us the courage to confront our circumstances and the capacity to surmount them."

Dr. Jerome Groopman
"The Anatomy of Hope"

[april1848]

You quoted this to me once, and it resonates with me as well. It's a new perspective for me on hope, and it makes perfect sense. I'm going to send it to some people in my life who certainly don't understand the difference between hope & optimism. I know a few people who could really benefit from this.

I don't know the book or author, but the author definitely has some wisdom!

[Bearygood]

April, I'm not sure but I think when I first shared this with you I may not even have known the nature of the book. I was really surprised when I looked it up on Amazon and saw the full title, "The Anatomy of Hope: How People Prevail in the Face of Illness".

http://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Hope-P...6652593&sr=8-1

[SallyC]

Thanks BG, I needed that..

I get so sick of hearing..."just be optimistic and all will be OK"

It's Faith, HOPE and Love!! Not Faith, optimism and Love.

[Friend2U]

"Clear-eyed, hope gives us the courage to confront our circumstances and the capacity to surmount them."

I like this. Thank you for sharing it!

[Bearygood]

Well, lo and behold...

Anyone ever see the TV show "Gideon's Crossing"? I didn't see it (now canceled) but apparently the show was based on another book by Dr. Jerome Groopman.

Well apparently, a new HBO series based on "The Anatomy of Hope" is in the works: http://www.jeromegroopman.com/tv.html

[DM]

Thanks for sharing that, BG! I like the way SalPal put it.