We live in anticipation. The worker who looks forward to a vacation is probably far happier and more productive than one who toils away without the slightest carrot of free time dangling in their future.
Without lying to ourselves, how do we unlock the treasure of hope (of more time, more freedom, and other imagined scenarios, etc.) without fabricating it? Hope is a hedge; it sees the world for all its doom yet remains wide-eyed to know that bad times don’t last forever. The survivalist exploits hope to revenge against reality.
On the other hand, doubt is a disease that inhibits our perception of the world. It wants us to play it safe, do nothing, or persist through hell on a slow downward grind. Thankfully, the emotional muscle grows resilient to attacks of uncertainty and pessimism over the years.
Anxiety also gets pretty boring. People want to discover new things about themselves and their capabilities. So we take on new challenges and learn to be more patient.
As cliche as it sounds, hope offers something even if our eyes fail to see it. Experience teaches us that results take time and that failure is an opportunity in disguise. Every endeavor is another chance to uncover an unexpected twist.
