Hope springs eternal in the human breast: Man never is, but always to be blest. Alexander Pope
Pandora, a princess of ancient Greece, was given a gift, a mysterious box, by gods jealous of her beauty. She was told that she must never open the box. But one day, overcome by curiosity and temptation, Pandora lifted the lid to peek in, letting loose in the world the grand afflictions – disease, malaise, and madness. But a kind god let her close the box just in time to capture the one antidote that makes life’s misery bearable: Hope.
According to modern psychological research, hope offers a bit of solace amid affliction. It plays a surprisingly potent role in life, offering an advantage in realms as diverse as school achievements and responsible jobs.
In a technical sense, hope is more than a sunny view that everything will turn out right. Some people think that they can get out of a jam or find a way to solve a pressing problem through hope. Others simply do not see themselves as having the energy, ability or means to accomplish their tasks. People with high levels of hope share certain traits. They motivate themselves, feel resourceful and reassure themselves that things will get better.
From an emotional intelligence perspective, when you are hopeful of something, you will not give in to overwhelming anxiety which is a defeatist attitude. Those who entertain hope usually do not feel depressed in challenging situations.
A revelation of 21st century science is that hope is not just a feeling. It is a biological reaction that shapes your physical and psychological health. When we are feeling low, psychologists advise us to meditate on the marvels of human existence. It really boosts our hope. If you think of the universe, our galaxy is made up of over a hundred billion stars. The sun and all the other stars are moving at a hundred million kilometres a day.
Every moment, the universe keeps on expanding bringing more light. Miracles abound in the universe. Whatever travails you are going through in life, always there is hope for a new day. Hope’s energy is brightening. It is rekindling novel possibilities every moment.
Terminal illness
Hope is an essential ingredient when you suffer from a terminal illness such as cancer. Doctors are beginning to discover that the best cure is often simply to deny the worst and hope for the best.
Certain surgical operations turn out to be a battle between life and death. Patients who are compelled to undergo such an operation adopt two ways to face the situation.
Before the operation, some patients try to find out everything about it from medical professionals or books. Other patients, however, undergo the surgery hoping that everything will be fine. Latest research shows that hoping for the best in a surgery is a faster route to recovery. Richard S. Lazarus, Professor of Psychology at the University of California, said denial of prior knowledge is a healthy approach.
As in all other human affairs, there is no unanimity in opinion. There are some patients who are vigilant and alert to every detail prior to the surgery. However, those who avoided such practices prior to the operation had a lower incidence of postoperative complications such as nausea, headache or fever. One reason attributed to this situation is that denial made room for hope even under the grimmest conditions.
Norman Cousins, author of Anatomy of an Illness said, “Never deny the diagnosis but do deny the negative verdict that may go with it.” According to him, hope and determination have a good chance to transcend the averages.
Sometimes heart patients are hooked to a machine. If the patient thinks positively that it is going to make him better, he will recover soon. If the patient thinks that hooking up to a machine is a sign of a weak heart, he will not reap the benefits. However, denial does not work in all situations. For instance, a diabetic has to monitor his blood sugar; a kidney patient must keep track of dialysis; and a woman who finds a lump in her breast should consult a physician.
Vigilant patients
If you visit a hospital, you will see overly vigilant patients. According to medical opinion, their central nervous system gets aroused into a fight-or-flight response. As a result, the patient will suffer from stress. What is more, those who get more information about a pending surgery will not be able to relax. Those who receive minimal information, however, tend to relax throughout the procedure.
According to medical practitioners, this does not mean that patients have no right to get information about a surgery. Patients can seek as much or little information as their individual coping style dictates.
Common sense dictates that it is useless worrying about an impending surgery when there is nothing you can do about it. However, any patient is entitled to be vigilant about matters under his control. Each person has to find out their personal disposition to acquire information. When you gather more information than is necessary, it might lead to stress.
Apart from surgery, you might find yourself in a life-threatening situation. What can a person do when trapped in a mine? If he tries to dig out, he will waste his energy. Such a person has only one option. That is to hope for a rescue operation which is not under his control. The same logic can be applied to everyday situations. Today, gas explosions occur in some places. To avoid an explosion, you have to adopt some other method to cook your meals until the situation improves.
Physiological changes
Serious and long-term hope leads to physiological changes that improve the body’s resistance. There are two hormones – cortisol and prolactin – that are strongly affected by an attitude of hope. There seems to be a strong relationship between such neurochemicals and the immune system. When you are hopeful of recovery from a disease, you are unlikely to come under stress.
Hope is the last resort when there is nothing else you can do. In a way, it is a kind of passive sort of coping with problems. Those with strong faith are the ones who stick it out in the worst circumstances. When you are struck down with a debilitating disease, you are only left with hope. When you cannot change the circumstances in your life, do not despair. Simply accept them without giving up hope.