Trailer · Tue, April 29, 2025

Your Personal List of Hope

Today I want to do something a bit different. Each day I want to share something that will help you find hope or remain hopeful or possible share hope with someone else. It’s a renewable resource after all and we know it grows the more we share it with others. Today I want to suggest creating your personal hope list. Use your phone or something easy – don’t make this a big project. It’s best if you go with what comes to you right away. Who and what in your life keeps you hopeful or gives you hope? Put it on the list. Be generous, no one else will see this – this is just for you.   I’m going to share 3 things from my list, just for inspiration to help you get started.

S1 E72 · Mon, April 28, 2025

Hope is Remembering and Looking Ahead

3 years ago, my younger brother passed away. He’d been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer just 3.5 years earlier. I He never gave up hope. In fact, he packed a ton of living in those years even with 2 surgeries and regular chemo treatments. I miss him of course, and I wish he was still here and also appreciate his enthusiasm for life and his desire to be clear-eyed about what was most important to him. As sad as those hospice days were, they also gave me hope. I’m sharing this because it’s an act of hope to live – to show up and do what makes you happy – to let the people in your life know how much that matter to you – It’s an act of hope to plan for the future, to dream about possibilities It’s an act of hope to care about others, even people you don’t know It’s an act of hope to plant a garden, to publish your writing – to start a new job – to reach out to an old friend – to believe that things will get better Hope is part of remembering what was and planning for what can be. Here’s to a great day full of hope and possibility and an even better tomorrow

S1 E71 · Fri, April 25, 2025

Seasons of Hope Spring Edition

I know I’ve talked about this before, but here in Ohio where I live we are finally having some sunny days and temperature that make you want to kick off your boots and go grab your flip flops. And there’s nothing like it. I love it all and try to appreciate it all as well. Life has a seasonality to it too. I’m truly hopeful for what’s next. I hope you are too wherever you are – that you can look back with appreciation for what you’ve accomplished and overcome and look forward with hope for the future.

S1 E70 · Thu, April 24, 2025

Dolly Parton: Ambassador of Hope

I once heard someone refer to Dolly Parton as in American treasure and I think that feels right. she's is beloved by people in the country music world and her popularity has exceeded Way Beyond her humble Tennessee upbringing. I consider Dolly an ambassador of Hope because she’s always done things on her terms with thoughtfulness for others. In 2023 she published a beautiful book titled Behind the Seams, that is about all of her costumes and gowns and wigs and all of her clothes that she wore through the years. As a young musician and performer, before she was the famous Dolly Parton she is today, she had the presence of mind to keep the clothes that she wore. Before she was a big star. I find that hopeful. She came from humble beginnings and she talks about this in the book about how why she's always worn big sparkly clothes and high heels and the big wigs she explains that they made her feel beautiful and special. The value of cherishing her clothes for herself it's such an act of hope. She did not know back in the '60s and '70s that she was going to be the Dolly Parton that we all know and love today, or maybe she did! It reminds me that when we're willing to be true to who we know we are, be true to what we know is right for us, what makes us feel good, good things will happen. Behind the Seams photo credit: Alexander Krivitskiy Unsplash

S1 E69 · Wed, April 23, 2025

Your Are Allowed to be Happy

Today I'm reading a post written by someone who made such a great point that hope and happiness are ours to treasure, even if things aren't perfect. 3 minutes of happiness!

S1 E68 · Tue, April 22, 2025

You Are Allowed to be Happy

Life Experiences That Give Hope • Witnessing unexpected kindness - Those moments when someone goes out of their way to help another without expecting anything in return remind us of the fundamental goodness that exists in humanity, even during challenging times. We also know that our brain releases feel-good chemicals when we show kindness to others, received kindness ourselves and witness the kindness – it’s the ultimate win/win/win. • Recovering from failure or setback - The experience of falling down but finding the strength to get back up proves our resilience and teaches us that difficulties are temporary, not permanent conditions of life. It’s often when we may need to ask for help or acknowledge that we can’t do everything on our own. I want to be the kind of person that people come to when they need support, and I also want to be willing to ask for help when I need it. • Reconnecting with old friends - When relationships survive distance and time, it demonstrates that meaningful connections can endure and even deepen, showing us that some bonds transcend circumstance. Are you good at keeping in touch? That’s something I’d like to do a better job of – my mom was great at this. She kept in touch with letters and cards – and then phone calls with people for year. To this day, she still gets phione calls from a woman who befriended her when they were stationed in Florida in the 60’s. Her friend is in her 90’s and my mom is in her 80’s and they still do that. So much of life feels planned – we have routines and structure and I’m glad for that too – who wants chaos? Not me – a nice surprise now and then – that’s cool. I remind myself and I want to remind you too that you can Be intentional about the kind of day you want to have, the kind of person you want to be. There’s hope in choosing. Here’s to a great day today and an even better tomorrow.

S1 E67 · Mon, April 21, 2025

Something To Hope For

Tom Bodett, author, NPR essayist, and if that doesn’t ring a bell, you may know him as the Motel 6 spokesman has said: “They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.” That sounds right to me too. Something to hope for keeps popping up so I decided to share a few things that we might not always connect with being hopeful to remind us that the day-to-day things help us keep hope alive and well. My good friend Teresa Cleveland reminds me that gardening is an expression of hope. Planting seeds, hoping for the right about of sunshine and rain and the right temperatures are all required to get to the blooms or the harvest. If you’ve planted something in the past, or are getting ready to, remember that you are embodying what it means to be hopeful. One of my favorite Dolly Parton songs has lyrics that say “I can see the light of the clear blue morning and everything’s going to be alright, it’s going to be okay.” A new sunrise, a new day, the cycle of life reminds us that nothing stays the same – so if things feel dark now and then, remember it won’t’ always be so. Belonging, be part of communities - organizing to solve problems, choosing to pull together – that’s incredibly hopeful to me. When we do that,we are saying individually and as a group, I believe things can be better and if you’re involved it’s also choosing to be part of the solution. Action always boosts our hope. Lots of life experiences remind us that hope helps. Things like surviving chemo and the day comes when you wake up feeling a little bit better, being the new kid in school – I did this a few times and having someone invite your to sit with them at lunch, getting the promotion you’ve worked hard for and even a setback like not winning a big game but knowing you did your best - lots of things remind us that today can be better than yesterday and tomorrow can be better than today. I hope you’ll find a few of your own version of “something to hope for” - here’s to a great day and an even better tomorrow.

S1 E66 · Fri, April 18, 2025

The Connection Between Empathy and Hope

Empathy—our ability to understand and share the feelings of others—serves as a profound bridge between human hearts. It allows us to step outside ourselves and truly see the world through another's eyes. But there's another dimension to empathy that's often overlooked: its intimate relationship with hope. When we practice empathy, we don't just connect with another person's pain or joy; we create the possibility for transformation. This connection forms the foundation for genuine hope—not wishful thinking, but a grounded belief that things can improve through our shared humanity. How Empathy Cultivates Hope True empathy involves more than sympathy. When we empathize, we: 1. Acknowledge another's reality without judgment 2. Create space for authentic expression 3. Recognize our fundamental interconnectedness

S1 E65 · Thu, April 17, 2025

The Power of Both/And Thinking

S1 E64 · Wed, April 16, 2025

When the World Feels Overwhelming

When life feels overwhelming, especially when confronted with deeply troubling events or information that seems beyond our control, it's important to find constructive ways to respond while taking care of your own wellbeing. Start with self-care Verify information Constructive action Find community Maintain perspective Remember that even when facing serious challenges, small positive actions matter. Throughout history, positive change has often started with individuals taking modest but meaningful steps in their own communities.

S1 E63 · Tue, April 15, 2025

The Hope and Power Of Moments

The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact Reading the Power of Moments by Chip and Dan Heath has me thinking about how to stretch for insight. They explain in the book that sometimes the most powerful moments are what also provide us with the unvarnished insight into ourselves. While I'd like to think I'm self-aware, we all have blind spots and areas where we can't really see ourselves objectively. Think of a moment when you got a personal AHA. Maybe it was when you realized who you wanted to spend your life with. Did it happen in a flash? Maybe it was when you were in college and a class or experience helped you see what you really wanted to do with your life. Insightful moments can also be when we get a scary diagnosis and we realize that we can't spend one more year working 12 hour days to make someone else's dream come true, or maybe you talk to a friend who is dealing with a loss and you know in that moment that you want to be intentional about the time you spend with the people you love.

S1 E62 · Mon, April 14, 2025

Plan for Perfect, Hope for What's Possible

Would it be nice to have perfect days where everything goes as planned, you're in flow and the effortless achievement yields an impact that's helpful, honorable and kind? A few years ago I attended a seminar with Donald Miller the developer of the Storybrand method and book, along with the book Hero on a Mission among others. Hero on a Mission One of the things that stuck with me beyond the marketing info was the idea of planning for your ideal day, the perfect solution, the best version of your work and yourself. But he didn't stop there. Plan for perfect, while also understanding that it's rarely possible. What's the point? Well, for one, not settling for what we "think" is possible but what we WANT to be possible. For many of us, that's a new way of thinking. We've been taught to be "reasonable" and many of us were taught that wanting "too much" was selfish at best and greedy and sinful at worst. We've all heard the platitude hope for the best, plan for the worst and it feels like a common sense approach and I'm sure it's meant that way but I think plan for perfect, hope for the absolute best and be prepared to adapt as needed works much better. #affiliatelink

S1 E60 · Fri, April 11, 2025

When It's One of Those Days

It’s been one of those days. Sometimes it feels like whiplash. Something happens and throws me off. In my personal and professional life things are going well. I’m fortunate to own a small business that I enjoy working in and working on. I love my clients and I get to do fun things like this podcast. Personally I am also fortunate. I am married to my best friend and the best husband ever .Kelvin and we work together, pretty well actually, and we are both dealing with the aches that come with getting older (my knee is killing me) but we’re okay. Better than okay. We’re good. And still, I can’t watch the news, I curate the alerts I get to keep from spiraling into rage posting or panicking and saying things like “we should sell the house and move while we still can” and checking to see what condos cost. It reminds me how resilient we really are. Difficulties and hard times are unfortunately going to happen – hopefully not often and hopefully not too severe but none of us avoid challenges in our life. That’s why hope matters so much. It’s the tether that pulls us forward, that reminds us that things can improve. Tomorrow isn’t already written and what we do today matters. If you’re in a good place, I’m happy for you and if you’re having challenges, I so sorry things aren’t going better and to everyone I’m sending hope for a great today and an even better tomorrow.

S1 E60 · Thu, April 10, 2025

3 Things That Grow Hope

3 Things You Can Do to Foster Hope for Yourself Hey there! I've been thinking about hope lately and how important it is for our wellbeing. When things get tough, having hope can be that little spark that keeps us going. We know that taking action is one of the best ways to keep hope alive so today I have three simple things you can do to foster hope for yourself when you're feeling a bit lost:

Wed, April 09, 2025

The Seasons of Hope EP 59

Living where we have 4 distinct seasons has always been good for me. I like that things change. It marks the passing of time but it also brings appreciation and hope for the season passing and the new opportunities ahead. I recently went to an event in an area of town I haven’t been to in a bit and on the way there I saw all these signals of spring. Trees are in bloom, there were daffodils and tulips blooming and all of that has happened in just the last week or so. It feels like overnight we’ve moved from winter to spring. That got me thinking about seasons of hope and what they could look and feel like.

Tue, April 08, 2025

Let it Be Easy EP 58

Let it be easy. That's become a mantra for me lately. In my work and in my life. When I say easy, I don't mean without effort, but I do mean without struggle. I don't intend to do things the hard way but it can sometimes feel like it. How often do we set up intentional hurdles? More than you might think. Hurdles give us the psychological comfort of feeling like we're committed to change while actually protecting us from the discomfort of real transformation. What if we let it be easy? You can decide to do the one thing that moves you forward. I hope you'll give yourself permission to do the easy thing today.

Mon, April 07, 2025

Who Makes Your Heart Smile? EP 57

Surround yourself with people who make your heart smile. Lewis Carroll This was advice given to Alice in wonderland but turns out it's good advice for staying hopeful as well. Membership matters. We know that we're wired to be social, to live in tribes or now what we'd call families, genetic and chosen. In the US we're taught that rugged individualism is valued above collaboration and cooperation, but it real life, going it alone is not the best recipe for success or happiness. I have a ton of evidence and I’m sure you do to. Can you look back on and see when you’ve had the support and encouragement of family and friends? I’ve also benefitted from the support from a teacher and in my sales career I had professional mentors that helped me. I've been able to accomplish more than I would have done on my own. I’m not talking about dependency on others – I am talking about having some support. Think of it as a scaffold that helps you stay upright and capable of reaching for more. Today we see all sorts of evidence that being lonely, not having people to turn to is not just sad, it's detrimental to our well-being. Who makes your heart smile?

Fri, April 04, 2025

The Most Requested Leadership Trait and Daily Practice with Nancy Sheed EP 56

In this special guest-hosted episode, Nancy Sheed steps in to reflect on how hope is emerging as a powerful force in leadership, media, and everyday life. Drawing on recent conversations, events, and a Gallup poll showing hope as the most valued leadership trait, Nancy explores how hope isn’t just a feeling it’s a choice, a practice, and a form of resistance. Along with her personal insights, Nancy invites you to consider how you’re cultivating and spreading hope in your own world. Connect with Nancy: Website LinkedIn

Thu, April 03, 2025

How to Choose Hope

Choosing Hope In the face of uncertainty, choosing hope is a powerful act of courage. It's not about blind optimism or denying life's challenges. Rather, it's a deliberate stance—a decision to believe that our actions matter and that better possibilities exist. Hope is the quiet voice that whispers "try again" when everything seems lost. It's what pulls us forward when the path ahead is shrouded in fog. Unlike wishful thinking, true hope combines vision with action, dreams with determination. The practice of choosing hope begins with small moments: noticing beauty amid chaos, extending kindness when it's easier to retreat, or taking one step forward when standing still feels safer. These choices compound over time, shaping not just our individual experiences but our collective future. In a world that often emphasizes what divides us, choosing hope is a radical act of connection—to ourselves, to each other, and to a future worth creating together.

Wed, April 02, 2025

Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone EP 54

We've all heard the maxim, get comfortable being uncomfortable. That bit of advice is usually given when we're facing something we don't want to do, or haven't ever done before or something we wish we could avoid completely. It's essentially saying - get over your fear and do it anyway. Sound familiar? I get that it's meant to be encouraging but who wants to be uncomfortable? None of us do, especially if we have a choice. I like what author Terri Trespecio says about comfort zones - The goal isn't to get OUT of your comfort zone, the goal is to expand it. Growth is the goal, not more discomfort. As a resource it is a game-changer in helping us expand our comfort zones. Hear how hope functions as a spark for growth.

Tue, April 01, 2025

Hope and Confidence EP 52

Creating this podcast has helped me become a more confident writer and content creator. For a long time, I waited for those magical days when I felt confident and self-assured to sit down and create. That's when I'd really dive in allowing the ideas to bubble up. I wanted to be able to sit down and write or record or create content (or create art too for that matter) no matter how confident I felt, or didn't feel. committing to publish the Daily Dose of Hope podcast every M-F meant I'd have to do this on a pretty regular basis, whether I was feeling confident and creative or not. Now that I'm 50+ episodes in, here's what I've learned: Committing to doing this feels good and the fact that I kept this promise to myself has made me even more confident in my ability to keep going - not less. Confidence didn't make writing and recording possible, writing and recording made confidence possible.

Mon, March 31, 2025

Hope and Kindness: The Superpower We All Have EP 52

Let's talk about something pretty amazing: how being kind can totally transform hope in our lives. I know, I know—it might sound a bit cheesy at first, but stick with me here. Imagine kindness as this secret superpower we all carry around. It's not about grand, movie-hero moments, but those small, genuine connections that can totally change someone's day (and maybe even their entire outlook on life). Think about the last time someone was unexpectedly kind to you. Remember that warm, fuzzy feeling? That's hope right there—pure and simple. It's like a tiny spark that says, "Hey, the world isn't such a bad place after all." Here's the cool science-y part: when we're kind, our brains basically throw a little celebration. We release these awesome hormones that make us feel good, reduce stress, and make hope feel totally real. It's like our body's way of saying, "Yes! This human connection thing? It's pretty awesome!"

Thu, March 27, 2025

Patterns of Hope EP 51

Our ability to recognize patterns is more than just a cognitive skill—it's a source of hope that helps us get through challenging moments. We are wired to seek meaning, to connect dots, and to find order within chaos, and it’s this capacity that also serves as a source of hope and optimism. Pattern recognition is deeply embedded in our survival capacity. Our ancestors who could predict animal migrations, weather changes, and seasonal shifts were most likely to survive. This same instinct now gives us the ability to see hope where others might see only randomness. We look for recurring themes in our experiences, searching for predictability and potential positive outcomes even in seemingly unpredictable situations. Consider how hope itself is a form of pattern recognition. When we face difficulties, we don't just see isolated incidents but part of a bigger picture. We recognize that challenges have come before times when things go our way. That gives us a mental template and a reminder that our current struggles are temporary. This isn't mere wishful thinking—it's a cognitive process of contextualizing our experiences.

Wed, March 26, 2025

The Energy of Hope EP 50

Hope provides a sense of optimism and a belief in a better future, which can be a powerful source of strength, especially during difficult times or when things are less than perfect. Hope isn't just an emotion—it's a form of energy that powers us through impossible landscapes. Unlike optimism, which often depends on favorable conditions, hope is the persistent current that flows even when the present evidence suggests things aren’t going our way. This energy has a unique signature. While fear contracts us and despair depletes us, hope expands our capacity. It fuels us to take action, sometimes doing things we wouldn’t have previously felt possible.

Tue, March 25, 2025

What You Do Matters EP 49

The mathematics of influence isn't linear, when that unknown first responder ran toward danger rather than away, they couldn't possibly have calculated how far their actions would resonate, They just did what they knew to do to help. This isn't about heroics or fame. Most world-changing actions never make headlines. They're quiet choices made at kitchen tables, in classrooms, at community meetings. It's ordinary people making extraordinary decisions to stand, speak, act, or simply show up differently. The difference one person makes isn't measured by immediate outcomes, but by how their actions shift what others believe is possible or permissible. That's the true miracle of individual impact; it never remains individual for long. What you do, what I do, matters. That’s how we create hope and create better tomorrow’s.

Mon, March 24, 2025

Rituals of Hope EP 48

In life's darkest corners, rituals of hope flicker like steady lanterns. These aren't grand ceremonies, but rather small, intentional acts we perform to keep faith alive when circumstances tempt us toward despair. Hope rituals anchor us to possibility. The journal entry that begins "When this passes..." The empty chair kept at the table during separation. The workspace maintained during illness. These quiet ceremonies aren't denial—they're brave declarations that the story isn't finished. Rituals don’t guarantee outcomes, but they do remind us that we have the capacity to envision them. In this way, the simple act of watering a plant, saving a seat, or lighting a candle becomes a statement: darkness, sadness or disappointment does not get the final word.

Fri, March 21, 2025

4 Ways to Share Hope With Others EP 47

We know that humans are hard wired for connection. When those around us struggle to find hope, our presence and actions can make a profound difference. Here are four meaningful ways to share hope with others:

Thu, March 20, 2025

When Hope Feels Elusive EP 46

There are times when hope seems to slip through our fingers – it feels elusive and out of reach. We want to hold onto something bright, only to find ourselves wondering why it’s so hard. We all have days when things don’t go well, or when we feel out of sorts. It can feel like our thoughts are foggy and it’s hard to focus on anything for more than a few minutes. We feel like the path forward is out of reach if not completely out of sight. When our usual sources of strength and hopefulness eludes us and the very idea of tomorrow feeling different seems impossible. Even in those moments though, I often find myself noticing a sense of rebellion, not giving in and not allowing hopelessness to take over.

Wed, March 19, 2025

Hope as a Catalyst for Creativity EP 45

Hope is more than just a pleasant feeling—it's a powerful force that fuels our creative potential. When we maintain hope, we open ourselves to possibilities that might otherwise remain hidden, allowing us to envision and create beyond our perceived limitations. The relationship between hope and creativity runs deep. Hope provides the emotional foundation needed for creative thinking to flourish. It creates a psychological space where we feel safe to explore, experiment, and take risks without being overwhelmed by fear of failure. Hear how creativity and hope work together to help us stay resourceful, make better decisions with less stress and anxiety.

Tue, March 18, 2025

Why Your Daily Dose of Hope Started EP 44

Today I want to reflect a bit. I started this 8 weeks ago and have shared a post M-F since then about hope and hopefulness and how it can help us in moments big and small in our lives. Since then, many have reached out to let me know that you've found this encouraging and I really appreciate the feedback and the encouragement. Thanks for letting me know and for your suggestions. A few questions about why I'm doing this have come up so today I want to answer a couple of those - in the hopes that you find it helpful and to also encourage you as well. Why hope? Why a podcast?

Mon, March 17, 2025

How Hope Conquers Fear EP 43

Today I’m diving into something we all experience: the struggle between hope and fear. These two forces shape our decisions, our outlook, and ultimately, our lives. The Nature of Fear Fear is hardwired into us. It's that voice that whispers "what if everything goes wrong?" It's the weight in your chest when facing uncertainty. Fear served our ancestors well—it kept them alive in dangerous environments. But in today's world, fear often holds us back more than it protects us. Fear narrows our vision. It creates tunnel vision where we can only see potential threats and disasters. It paralyzes us, keeping us stuck in uncomfortable but familiar situations rather than risking the unknown. The Power of Hope Hope, on the other hand, expands our vision. It's not blind optimism or wishful thinking—it's a profound belief that things can get better through our actions and perseverance. Hope gives us the courage to take that first step into uncertainty. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope." This captures the essence of hope's resilience. How do we get from fear to hope explained in this episode

Fri, March 14, 2025

Hope and Your Health EP 42

Hope is more than just a positive emotion or an optimistic feeling. It’s also a powerful psychological resource that impacts our physical and mental health as well. Research tells us that a hopeful outlook can lead to health benefits. We know that hopefulness involves having goals, finding pathways to achieve those goals, and maintaining the motivation and inspiration to to pursue them, even when faced with obstacles. This mindset creates positive effects for our mind and bodies too.

S1 E41 · Thu, March 13, 2025

Navigating the Stages of Hope

Hope is one of the foundations of our world And what’s even better is that hope isn’t just something we can have, it’s also something that we can give.  Hear the 5 Stages of Hope and how they can help you recognize how you can cultivate and nurture hope.

S1 E40 · Wed, March 12, 2025

Hope and Curiosity

Hope and curiosity share a special connection. Both look at the unknown with a sense of anticipation rather than fear. While hope helps us envision a better future, curiosity helps us check out the pathways that might lead us there. Curiosity keeps hope honest. It asks the essential questions: How might this work? What haven't we considered? Where else might we look? Who knows more about this than me? Do I know someone who can help? Without a curios approach hope can become wishfulness that doesn't feel legit. But when paired with genuine curiosity with hope then new ideas feel grounded and real possibilities instead of just wishing or wondering what if? 

S1 E39 · Tue, March 11, 2025

Hope and Creativity

Hope and creativity share a profound connection because they both require us to imagine what doesn't yet exist. When we create, we bring something new into the world; when we hope, we envision a future different from today. Creativity gives hope its form and substance. Through art, innovation, and problem-solving, we take things that can feel abstract and make them tangible. The painter captures the light on single flower, the write brings a loveable character to life, the entrepreneur designs new solutions to problems bringing their own perspective to the solution, the community organizer arranges resources in new ways to serve unmet needs. In the same way - hope fuels creativity. It provides the emotional resilience to persist through failed drafts, rejected proposals, and uncertain outcomes. Hope whispers "try again" when conventional wisdom suggests giving up.

S11 E38 · Mon, March 10, 2025

Rebooting Hope

Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you. Anne Lamott When our world seems full of challenges and uncertainty, hope can feel like something that once ran smoothly but has mysteriously crashed. Because hope isn't simply optimism or wishful thinking; it's the engine that powers meaningful change and resilience. Like restarting a computer, we sometimes need to pause, clear our mental cache, and intentionally choose to begin again. Rebooting hope begins with small, deliberate actions. 

S1 E37 · Fri, March 07, 2025

Ripples of Hope

Hope begins as a small spark within us - it's a belief that better days are possible. There's also an energy surrounding hope that extends beyond ourselves. I have always considered hope as a solitary mission - something that's personal and up to me to choose and to nurture. That still feels right to me but I've also seen the effects of hope - and its impact extends far beyond its origin.

S1 E36 · Thu, March 06, 2025

Choosing Hope Over Fear

"We choose hope over fear. We see the future not as something out of our control, but as something we can shape for the better through concerted and collective effort. Those words were part of a speech given by President Obama at the UN general assembly in 2014. He went on to talk about how there are a number of things in the world that make us worry if we are safe, and if we can pull together to affect change. What really hit me as I read the entire speech was how we seem to be in the same place, worried about many of the same things. Lots has changed since 2014 to be sure, and the players may not be the same, but it's worth remembering that we've gotten through difficult times before which gives us evidence that we can do so again.

S1 E35 · Wed, March 05, 2025

Planting Seeds of Hope

Here in Ohio, it's still cold but the days are longer and we've seen the sun a bit lately so it feels safe to think of spring. My good friend Teresa is an amazing gardener. It's one of her passions. She plans her vegetable and flower gardens and every year take joy in tending to and then harvesting and enjoying what she's grown. But it starts with planting seeds. That's a hopeful act -isn't it? Planting seeds, giving them water and sunlight and hoping they grow - is a blend of knowing what to do - and Teresa does - and ALLOWING the rest to happen. That part is important too - the allowing. You can't rush it - you can't force things to bloom before they are ready. Patience + knowledge + hope = growth, seedlings that bring their own version of hope for what's to come. Planting Seeds: A Quiet Act of Hope

S1 E34 · Tue, March 04, 2025

Hope With No Agenda

I was fortunate to go on a business retreat recently and one of the things that I came away with was the idea of no agenda. Not the meeting agenda but the "no agenda" idea that sometimes I can do things just because. Because it feels right in the moment, or because it makes me happy, or because it's something I like to do. In the business sense I recognized that I can share things that are helpful to others w/o agenda - no expectation of making a sale, or building my list - just being helpful because that's what feels good. Sometimes I don't do what I feel like doing because someone ELSE had an agenda for me . . all those things I "should" do like clean house instead of reading a book It's time for some "no agenda" ideas.

S1 E33 · Mon, March 03, 2025

Borrowing Hope

Sometimes, we can’t find hope within ourselves—but that doesn’t mean we have to go without it. Borrowing hope means you can lean on the belief, encouragement, and vision of others when our own feels out of reach. That might look like the friend who reminds you of your strength, the mentor who sees your potential, or the community that uplifts you when you’re struggling.

S1 E32 · Fri, February 28, 2025

Hope Floats a Poem by Donna Ashworth

Hope Floats, a poem by Donna Ashworth

S1 E31 · Thu, February 27, 2025

Resources for Hope

Today I want to share a few resources that I find hopeful. There's a lot going on in the world at large and most of us are doing the best we can to make good choices and decisions for ourselves and our families today. Big problems require big solutions and there are times when I feel like nothing I do will really matter. Except it does. We have evidence that when we do what we can to stay grounded and hopeful we find solutions and resources and people who can help. Here are a few that are helping me - the hope-bringers. 

S1 E30 · Wed, February 26, 2025

Conditions of Hope

One of the things I like best about the idea of holding hope and being hopeful is that it can exist in less-than-favorable conditions. Hope doesn't require perfection or ease or a plan. In fact, when none of those things are around - that's when hope is most helpful. Today I'm covering few examples that came to mind for me when i was thinking about how hope can co-exist with all manner of circumstances. 

S1 E29 · Tue, February 25, 2025

The Infinite Game of Hope

I've been thinking about the infinite nature of hope. We all see and experience the world through our own lens after all, but I do think hope is one of those universal truths – one of those things that transcends culture, time and space and everything that makes us all unique humans. In that way hope is for all of us, everywhere, in any circumstance. What does it mean to share hope as a resource that can be used again and again like a treasured family recipe, handed down so that others will never not know or go without? I have some ideas and it's why we're never without access to hope.

S1 E28 · Mon, February 24, 2025

When Hope Feels Risky

Hope is a risk because it's a choice. It's choosing to move forward when we'd rather quit. It's asking for help when we'd rather not. It's saying I'm worth it when the world wants us to devalue ourselves. It's risky to want things, to hope for a better tomorrow, to have faith that things can improve. Because they might not. We aren't guaranteed anything in this life - even tho we'd like to think so. One of the biggest obstacles to hope is the belief that things will always be the way they are right now. We tend to settle into a sense of sameness - even when things are anything but. Change is constant. We know this rationally, but it doesn't mean we always see things that way. When the simple things we rely on aren't working anymore where do we turn? What can we do? 

S1 E27 · Fri, February 21, 2025

Hope and Asking for Help

Why is it so hard for us to admit we need help now and then? Is it a woman thing? I don't think so. I know plenty of men who would rather struggle for hours on something before asking for help. It may be a bit of an American thing. After all, part of being an American is the belief that we can do anything, accomplish anything if we just try hard enough. But we know that effort alone isn't always enough. This concept has always frustrated me. I'm willing to work hard and learn new things, take risks, fail and try again, but there comes a time when the right thing to do (air quotes) is to let someone else do what I cannot or at minimum ask for help.

S1 E26 · Thu, February 20, 2025

Hope and Advocacy

What does it mean to be an advocate? How can self-advocacy help us? I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Today I see information related to advocacy around things both political and cause related. At it's essence it's taking a stand for myself, for others, for a cause I care about and it's a way to engage with our world. Big problems often require complex solutions that aren't black and white. The things that can't be solved with a checklist of tasks. At times that can make us feel that there's nothing we can do that matters. But that's not right. Advocacy is how we can make a difference.

S1 E25 · Wed, February 19, 2025

Hope and Your Tomorrow Self

What would your tomorrow self think about what you are doing (or not doing) today? today? That perspective is helpful for me especially when I'm avoiding a task or project that needs my focus and attention. Sometimes it's little things too. Like emptying the dishwasher. I don't know why I avoided this but a I did and then a couple years ago, I had something heating in the microwave for a couple minutes and decided to deal with putting the clean dishes away and I completed the task in less time than it took my food to cook. I'd been avoiding something that took less than 2 minutes. That's when it clicked that the story we tell ourselves about how much time things take is often very, very wrong. Which is why the tomorrow version of things can be so helpful.

S1 E24 · Tue, February 18, 2025

Hope and the Kindness of Strangers

Car trouble when I was away from home meant I needed to ask for help. Thankfully, there were people who did and who showed concern and kindness in what would have been a much more stressful moment. Their kindness brought me hope and made me think about my own willingness to be helpful and what it means to befriend a stranger if even for a few minutes.

S1 E23 · Mon, February 17, 2025

Hope and Affirmations

A few days ago I talked about the idea of a bucket of hope - things we carry with us to help us stay hopeful on the days when you need a little help. A friend mentioned that affirmations do that for her. I wanted to know more since that's not something I've really used. Here's what I've learned: Neuroplasticity, or your brain’s ability to adapt to different circumstances throughout life, is part of why affirmations can work. You've likely heard how our brain doesn't differentiate between reality and imagination - that's why affirmations can be so powerful. For example if you focus on a mental image of yourself doing something — like acing a nerve-wracking interview or practicing a skill - it activates many of the same brain areas that actually experiencing these situations would. Regular repetition of affirmations can encourage your brain to take these as fact to treat it as reality. When you truly believe you can do something, your actions often follow. Remember, action is key

S1 E22 · Fri, February 14, 2025

Hope and Mindfulness

What's the next thing? I'm a small business owner and many of my days are full of "next things" like the next deadline, the next zoom meeting, the next podcast launch. I'm guessing you have days like that too. I'm okay with it because I like the work I do and I enjoy our clients so much - they are so talented and smart. It's fun work. But there are days when I spend too much time thinking about what's next instead of enjoying what is. This moment. right now. today. There are always things to do and of course it's important to meet commitments and deadlines but - I also think it's okay to be intentional about being in the present. A few minutes of mindfulness to check in and see how I'm feeling makes a huge difference.

S1 E21 · Thu, February 13, 2025

Hope and Your Soul's Purpose

What's your soul's purpose? Is that something you think about? I confess wonder now and then about the whole meaning of life - I mean why ARE we here? My friend recently did a soul reading for me based on a specific practice that she's learned and it was fascinating to hear what felt like my thoughts spoken back to me. I believe you and I are here for a reason and I think that we are connected in some way for a reason too. 

S1 E20 · Wed, February 12, 2025

Hope and Truth and Absolutes

Why hope? Good question. There are so many things in life that are unpredictable and outside our ability to change or control - hope is one of those things that makes the uncontrollable feel less overwhelming. I'm not talking about the rainbow and unicorns - maybe we'll win the lottery kind of hope (not that there's anything wrong with that) but hope that's grounded in what we know to be true. About our world and about ourselves. So what is true? I had a conversation a couple months ago with a friend about this topic. Are there universal truths that apply to all of us? 

S1 E19 · Tue, February 11, 2025

Hope and Just Let Them” a poem by Cassie Phillips

Just Let Them” a poem by Cassie Phillips speaks to the art of releasing control and finding solace in acceptance. It's a simple message that reminds us to trust the choices and journeys of those around us, even when they differ from our own. The author invites us to embrace the freedom that comes with letting go—freeing ourselves and others to follow our own path, allowing each of us to find our own way. “ Just let them."

S1 E18 · Mon, February 10, 2025

Hope is Being Able to See That There is Light

We are all driven by things that affect us in a personal way. It's not that we don't care about big issues that may not affect us directly like poverty or military conflicts or natural disasters - of course we do even if we aren't personally impacted - but we experience life in a series of every day moments and repeated decisions - filled with routine circumstances - and often we don't really find ourselves looking for hope until our every day regular-ness or routine-ness is affected. Then things can go from routine which we're okay with to difficult or even scary. Hope can feel elusive at those times so it's worth nurturing a bit of hope every day. That concept reminds me of a quote about little bits of hope - and I went searching for the whole thing and it's by Desmond Tutu: Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness . Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world. Desmond Tutu

S1 E17 · Fri, February 07, 2025

Hope Can Take on a Life of it's Own

From a fav Michelle Obama Quote: You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world's problems at once but don't ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own. 

S1 E16 · Thu, February 06, 2025

Be Part of a HOPE MOvement

What would it take to make HOPE a movement? I don't have THE answer but I think part of it has to be sharing what's in our own bucket of hope with someone else. Today I have 7 things you can do in minutes - that could really make someone else's day and you're going to feel pretty great too.

S1 E15 · Wed, February 05, 2025

Be Intentional About What You Let In

When I feel my anxiety levels start to rise it's almost always because I've been looking at my phone and scrolling social media or reading news alerts - and when I'm doing that I feel like I'm on autopilot - not really engaged but stuck just the same. Not the conscious choices I want to make. That reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from James Clear - the Atomic Habits Author is "The Information you consume each day is the soil from which your future thoughts are grown. We get to choose what we consume. Let's make it hopeful.

S1 E14 · Tue, February 04, 2025

Hope and the Company You Keep

I asked Chip Conley, the Author and the founder of the Modern Elder Academy what hope meant to him. I got a lovely response that sounds just like his book The Rebel Rules: Daring to be yourself in Business. He began by saying " Hope for me is rooted in the belief that we each have something unique to share." He also talked about how our hope and impact affects those we connect with and encourages us to be mindful of who and what we let in.

S1 E13 · Mon, February 03, 2025

10 Ways to Boost Hopefulness

Hope can be nurtured and we've curated a top 10 list to help you sustain hope in your life.

S1 E12 · Fri, January 31, 2025

6 Books Guaranteed to Bring You Hope

Sharing some of my favorite authors and their books about hope and resiliency. Titles: Man's Search for Meaning Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith Almost Everything: Notes on Hope A Heart on Fire: 100 Meditations on Loving Your Neighbors Well My Life Gets Better Every Day: Daily affirmations to create joy, improve relationships, and live your very best abundant life.

S1 E11 · Thu, January 30, 2025

Let's Make Hopescrolling a Thing

What if your social media feeds were hopeful and fun? One way to make that happen is to be the sharer of good news. It's tempting to fire off a snarky comment or post about the latest horrible thing that's happened (I'm guilty of this) but from here on I'm making an intentional effort to be a feed of happiness and hope and I hope you'll join me.

S1 E10 · Wed, January 29, 2025

Hope and Trying New Things

Trying new things can be fun, rewarding and a way to create new connections. It's also good for your brain, reduces stress, helps you become a better problem solver not to mention the chance to immerse yourself in something that provides new experiences.

S1 E9 · Tue, January 28, 2025

Hope and Your Brain on Art

The book Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us  was a fascinating read and it helped me understand the benefits of creating and consuming art. It's not just for experts either. No matter our skill level, we can get the brain benefits, lower stress and more when we engage our creative side. Quote from the book:  Magsamen and Ross offer compelling research that shows how engaging in an art project for as little as forty-five minutes reduces the stress hormone cortisol, no matter your skill level, and just one art experience per month can extend your life by ten years.

S1 E8 · Mon, January 27, 2025

What's in Your Bucket of Hope?

We've all done it. We carry fears, anger, and past disappointments with us when we don't have to. We drag them around like reviewing past moments of disappointment will somehow make things better or help us make better decisions. What they really do - keep us from moving forward. All of this got me thinking about what a bucket of hope might look like. What if we carried that around with us? What if we depended on that when we were having a bad day, or ran into an obstacle. I'm not talking about painting a happy face on challenges that need our focus, but some days go off the rails when we see an unkind post on social media or when we're on day 9 of gray skies and rain and dipping into our bucket of hope could be helpful. Check out what's in the bucket.

S1 E7 · Fri, January 24, 2025

Hope and Gratitude

I have a confession about gratitude - for a long time, I just couldn't connect being thankful with being hopeful. Yes, of course I'm thankful. For all the things. Somewhere along the way things got a bit muddled. Was I thankful that chemo made my husband cancer free, yes but I can't honestly say I was thankful for the actual process and side effects that came with it. Who would be? Was I thankful he made it, of course, but part of me also wondered why he had cancer in the first place. That wasn't fair, right? That's why I want to talk about gratitude today - especially as it relates to hope and hopefulness.

S1 E6 · Thu, January 23, 2025

The 3 Elements of Hope according to Brené Brown

When researching the concept of hope, I knew I'd need to see what researcher and author Brene Brown had to say on the subject. In her book Atlas of the Heart she declares "We need hope like we need air." She explains that hope is not a warm, fuzzy emotion rather it's a way of thinking. A cognitive process. An experience that combines 3 elements, goals, pathways and agency.

S1 E5 · Wed, January 22, 2025

H.O.P.E. Help One Person Everyday

Today I am sharing something I learned from friends O'tion and V. They are two amazing humans who teach people how to heal trauma using what they call SIT which stands for Subconscious Imprinting Technique. Amazing humans doing amazing work. In one of their emails a few months ago they used the word hope as an acronym. H O P E standing for Help One Person Everyday. I loved it then and it's stuck with me. Most of us know that helping others is worthwhile and rewarding. Paying it forward is often used to describe our actions of kindness and generosity - that don't expect any sort of reciprocation or even acknowledgment. We do good, because we want to feel good and now we know there's science that proves why it literally feels good to help others.

S1 E4 · Tue, January 21, 2025

What if This is Why You're Here?

What if you are here for just this moment? What if everything I’ve learned, experienced, studied and shared What if the total life experience to this point is what you needed to bring you this very moment? And what if this moment is here in front of us because we’re meant to do the thing, make an impact, be a friend, solve a problem, cure heartache, to be the neighbor others can depend on or the leader others need to show them the way? What if that’s the point? 

S1 E3 · Mon, January 20, 2025

The Future is in Our Present Moments

Hope is one of the foundations of our world And what’s even better is that hope isn’t just something we can have, it’s also something that we can give.  Hear the 5 Stages of Hope and how they can help you recognize how you can cultivate and nurture hope.

S1 E2 · Mon, January 20, 2025

The Future is in Our Present Moments

"The future is an infinite succession of presents" , and to live now as we think human being should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory. There's a lot of uncertainty in the world right now, and most of us would say that it's not all bad, there is good in the world to be sure. But there are problems that feel so big - so overwhelming - it's no surprise we wonder if being hopeful is possible.  Quote by Howard Zinn

S1 E1 · Mon, January 20, 2025

Take the First Step

This is the first episode and since it’s dropping on MLK day I thought it was only right to begin with one of his quotes. Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. Martin Luther King, Jr. This quote always gives me hope and encouragement. Life is unpredictable, and despite our best efforts to control circumstances and outcomes we can often find ourselves feeling uncertain. It doesn’t feel good to be unsure and many of us will stop ourselves from taking action just to avoid uncertainty. It’s uncomfortable to be uncomfortable and in an effort to avoid feeling that way, we often resist doing something that’s going to move us forward, and help us feel better. Today, I'm reminded by Dr. King's words that action is almost always the way forward. Do what you know to do, take the first next step no matter how small or insignificant it may feel. Even if that step is asking for help, you’re moving forward. Often, if we’re truly honest with ourselves, we can identify at least one action to take. 

Trailer · Mon, January 20, 2025

A Daily Dose of Hope

Your Daily Dose of Hope Start your day with inspiration, positivity, and practical wisdom on Your Daily Dose of Hope . Each episode is a brief, uplifting journey designed to empower you to face life's challenges with resilience and optimism. From heartwarming stories and motivational insights to actionable tips for personal growth, we bring you the encouragement you need to thrive. Whether you're navigating tough times or just looking to add a little brightness to your day, Your Daily Dose of Hope is here to remind you that better days are always ahead. Tune in daily for your much-needed spark of hope!