Will Hope or Fear Guide Your Future?

“Hope and fear cannot occupy the same space at the same time. Invite one to stay.” ~ Maya Angelou

In my last Masterful Mindset, I wrote about choosing courage over comfort. So now, I want to focus on another choice we have. This is the choice between hope and fear. So before you read on, ask yourself, if hope or fear is dictating the path you’re taking to your future? Which one do you want guiding you into the next chapter of your life?

With each passing year, both of my daughters consistently and joyfully embark on new chapters in their lives. (This year, my oldest will be graduating college and my youngest will be leaving for college) at I want for them but at the same time, letting them go… not so easy.

I have such great hope for their futures. And yet, if I’m not careful, I can easily find myself overcome with fear about their futures too. The uncertainty, the risks, the fact that I truly cannot be there to protect them every step of the way nor am I in control of everything – It can be beyond frightening at times. But then… I catch myself, breathe, say a prayer and release the fear in order to replace it with hope again.

When you think about it, this same battle between fear and hope can show up in your own life regularly too. We all experience transition points in our lives when we are about to embark on a new chapter, and it scares the hell out of us. Or even worse, maybe it’s time to close an old chapter so you can start a new one, but the fear of the future keeps you from moving on.

It’s at these times that you must make a choice…  Just as the quote above states, hope and fear cannot occupy the same space at the same time. So you must decide which you want guiding your life.

I heard a saying once, “You can’t ride two horses with the same ass.” Funny, right? But think about it… Imagine yourself trying to ride two horses at once. Not really possible. You’ve got to choose which you’ll ride into your future. Hope or Fear? Fear will keep you stuck in the stables. Feeling fenced in and holding you back from seeing beyond the horizon to endless possibilities. While hope will let you ride free… free of doubt, free of limitations, free of the self-defeating beliefs that feed the fear. Hope will set you free to run and even give you wings to fly to places you’ve only imagined!

You must decide which horse you’ll be riding into your future. Choose whether you want fear or hope guiding you and then invite one to stay. Begin to practice awareness when you feel fear show up and threaten to take over. Notice the thoughts you have, the words you speak (internally and out loud) and then find a practice that works for you to choose hope. For me, as I mentioned above, when I catch myself – I breathe, say a prayer and release the fear in order to replace it with hope. Pick your own practice and begin to invite hope into every corner of your life. Including your connection to the lives of those you love…

Whether you are entering into a new chapter in your life or simply just turning a page to a new day… my prayer for you is that you will choose to ride hope into your future every step of the way.

I know this seems easier said than done at times. Embarking on a new chapter in life can be scary. But if you need help, I’d love to get you started on the right path! Check out these 5 powerful questions to ask yourself to not only gain clarity about what’s holding you back but also new tools that can help you move forward.