Is there a cherished desire within just waiting to burst forth? Are you lacking confidence it will happen? Has something or someone caused you to sink into despair? Have you given up? Do you want to give up? Don’t! I’m here to tell you this very moment, there is hope.
Nothing and no one can take away hope. Oh, I think circumstances can bring us down, and I think too many people try to destroy hope in us including ourselves at times. But behold, I’m here today to tell you hope lasts forever (1 Cor. 13:13). Not only that, but I believe God appoints certain people with the gift of giving hope.
True Story Ahead
Before I begin my story, let me first say this: Yes, I’ve experienced deep despair. Yes, I know what losing hope feels like. It feels like crap!
There’s plenty of time in the future for me to share my stories of my afflictions. Today, I’m focusing on new inspiration I’ve been given regarding hope.
Last week I attended and completed Gallup’s Coaching Individuals, Managers and Teams Strengths course. This is a requirement to become a certified Gallup StrengthsFinder Coach. I’m not quite certified yet. There’s still some coaching assignments to do and a significant test to pass. Nevertheless, I’m excited about Strengths coaching and helping others develop.
The cool thing about attending this course is I met fantastic people. I learned amazing information. I got to practice coaching, and I had the opportunity to be coached by a fellow Strengths coach and then later with the whole class on a specific issue: To retire or not to retire my pom poms at work. Yes, I have pom poms. Yes, I use them with enthusiasm at times. Once a cheerleader, always a cheerleader I say.
As I was studying the information last week, I noticed “hope” kept popping up in my talent descriptions. I began to recognize “hope” as more than an idea. In my coaching session with John we talked about “hope” and how it seems to be a key component of my integrated talents.
We talked about me being challenged to consider not using my pom poms any more at work, but I didn’t feel like that was being congruent with who I am. I couldn’t really put my finger on why other than I didn’t want to put away my pom poms for good.
Through coaching last week I learned the pom poms are a symbol of my creating energy, joy, and hope. It’s not the pom poms that do this. It’s the light of hope inside of me bursting forth. The pom poms are just an outward expression to this energy trying to win others over to hope.
I want to help restore energy in others.
I want to get others cherishing their desires with an expectation of obtaining them. That’s hope my friends.
What is Hope?
To some hope may look childish, naïve, or superficial. Hope is none of those things. Hope is a serious gift to give. In a world full of darkness that can be lonely, frightening, and paralyzing, there’s no greater gift than hope.
Hope causes light to shine in the deep crevices of our souls and minds. When hope arrives, we begin to see the intensity of our need for rising to let more light in. Hope stirs within us that our cherished dreams can be fulfilled.
Hope refocuses our attention to the possible. Hope causes us to rise above our circumstances and believe again.
Hope restores energy.
We can rejoice in hope. More than that we should be joyful in hope always (Romans 12:12).
Don’t underestimate the power of hope. There’s a sense in this world that hope is silly when things look glim. Sometimes I wonder how many people walk around each day in hopelessness and no one notices.
Hope is serious business for someone like me for I’ve been given the gift of hope and one of my biggest assignments is to cheer on hope in others.
Graduation
At the end of our Gallup course, we had a graduation. It was emotional. Each person wrote a winner’s card to the person they coached.
Here’s a portion of what John wrote to me for my graduation:
“As you make meaning of your journey, you rely on stories to connect your words with action. Your stories provide an opportunity for others to see themselves in you. Finally, continue to keep hope as your wish for others. Hope is what you are striving for…Recognize the gift you give to each person whose hope you kindle.”
And then John presented me with artwork he personally drew for me. I was so excited I jumped up and down (yes, once a cheerleader, always a cheerleader).
You see, I coached John. One of the things we talked about was using his talents to help others develop. One of his talents is an artistic passion. I gave him a suggestion to maybe use his art in his coaching. And he did!
The picture above is his personal drawing for me. Now that encouraged me and gave me hope and joy! What a fantastic feeling knowing you’ve positively impacted someone to use their talents.
So when you see someone with pom poms please consider, it may be their way of helping to restore energy, joy, and hope into the lives of those who have a cherished desire just waiting to burst forth. They just need someone who will help let the light back in.
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