Of all of the things in life that are fleeting, hope must be the most tragic. The innocence of youth speeds away like a train, into a distant memory and all that is left is the reality of your life.

Where you’ve gone or what you’ve done doesn’t always reconcile with what you used to imagine for yourself. Maybe you imagined a big house, with a fancy car and the perfect life? Maybe you imagined a career as a professional athlete? Maybe you loved your job? Maybe, you just wanted to be happy?

That was until something changed. A roadblock that you never saw coming but it changed everything in an instant – directed you down a different path that wasn’t so glamorous.

It seems at times that all hope was lost.

Has your life experiences made you cynical?

What do you still believe in?

Do you believe you can achieve great things?

Do you believe you can still achieve your dreams?

Belief in yourself and your potential is everything. It can mean the difference between passion, attitude, perseverance, drive, commitment – or just reserving yourself to your current position in life. It can mean the difference between giving it everything you’ve got or just letting the chips fall where they may. That is the very mindset that separates successful people and those who whine and complain that they “never get a break” or about what they don’t have.

Successful people don’t let their past get in the way of where they’re going. They don’t let roadblocks keep them from reaching their dreams. They use them as fuel for the fire, to feed their never-say-die attitude.

In their life, good isn’t good enough. “Normal” isn’t what they’re all about. They understand what hard work is and where it gets you.

If you’ve lost your way and all you want to do is quit, I have something to tell you.

I know it is easy to quit, but

When things seem the darkest, hope can give you light – you just have to believe.

“We’re not talking about being a victim, we’re talking about being a victor!” – Eric Thomas

Hope Is A Good Thing, Maybe The Best Of Things

Red: Let me tell you something my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane.
Andy Dufresne: [in letter to Red] Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.