Viktor Frankl, a renowned psychiatrist, Holocaust survivor and author, draws from experiences in Nazi concentration camps to develop a profound understanding of the importance of hope called logotherapy. This psychotherapeutic approach describes the search for a life’s meaning as the central human motivational force. Frankel observed that people in Nazi extermination camps who found a shred of hope, even in the bleakest circumstances, were more likely to endure and survive.

Frankl later wrote in his book Man’s Search for Meaning that “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”

News reports of the Hamas attacks on Israel cover the unconscionable devastation of Israeli villages along the Southern border. An inhumane action directly almost entirely toward civilians, documented and shared on social media by terrorists not “caught in the act” but proudly sharing visuals online of their murder spree.  The media focuses primarily on geopolitical chaos and military response.  The human stories center around families searching for information about loved ones missing or the more than 100 civilians taken hostage to hostile territory – their destiny unknown.

The Biblical reading for Simchat Torah, the holiday marking the annual cycle of the conclusion of Torah readings, with which Hamas timed its well-coordinated attack, ends with a prophetic call from the Book of Joshua:  “Only be strong and resolute!”

The bigger story is to explore Israeli’s unwavering resilience in the face of so much horror.  Israel is built on “hope,” nurtured by hope, and resilient because hope is embedded in the people’s mental health psyche. Once the anguish and outrage are expressed, its citizens will turn to what they do best – rebuilding.  What of their neighbors? Will this successful blood-letting act be a catalyst for nation-building inspiration?

The Psychological Benefits of Hope

Psychologists have long recognized the vital role hope plays in people’s resilience. American psychologist Professor Charles Snyder defined hope as “a positive motivational state that is based on an interactively derived sense of successful agency (goal-directed energy) and pathways (planning to meet goals).” Snyder’s definition highlights the two critical components of hope: agency and pathways.

Agency is the belief that someone can initiate actions and make a difference. In desperate situations, this belief can be a lifeline. It fuels determination and empowers individuals to take control of their situation, no matter how hopeless and disappointing.

Pathways represent strategies and plans that can be developed to achieve those goals. Hope provides the internal flame framework for problem-solving and finding a way out of dire situations. Researchers emphasize that hope is intricately linked to a person’s problem-solving abilities, making it an essential psychological – even people-building – resource.

When Hate Defines Purpose

Hope is not just an abstract concept; it can be nurtured and cultivated. This is one of Israel’s and its people’s most significant resources – not oil, diamonds, or other precious natural resources.  Hope is a national treasure that can be mined and replenished. It is the micro-processor of the “Start-Up Nation” credited with countless innovations that are used in medicine, technology and auto GPS systems.

Right now, Israel must secure its borders and prevent nearby nations from taking advantage of the current instability.  That “hopefully” is in its neighbors – Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and even Saudi Arabia’s – best geopolitical interests.  Then, it must address painful steps to determine how low-tech terrorist planning overwhelmed the hi-tech intelligence system of one of the world’s greatest innovation engines. But those steps will not deter the nation’s simultaneous focus on healing and hope.

This national soul-searching is another painful chapter in the bigger saga – how will this mega terrorist war-level attack change its approach to the relationship with the Palestinians and influence Palestinian’s strategy to build a nation not based on hate?  Historically, Hamas celebratory events have not been rooted in establishing statehood-level institutions in Gaza that support culture, education, finance, health, and infrastructure. 

No one can account for the billions in regional and global aid directed to Hamas for infrastructure and refugee support. Where has it been spent? For tunnels or teachers?  For medical supplies or missiles?  Just the aid provided by Saudi Arabia alone to the Palestinian people during the last 17 years exceeded $6 billion. That does not include other United Nations members and institutions. But where is the ROI for these billions, and how does that massive investment kindle hope on the part of the Palestinian people when the fruits of the spending are invisible to the people?

As we’ve seen in the media during the past few days, Hamas invested mightily in this attack against Israel. An attack that is certain to be answered with a military response further setting back Palestinian citizens trapped in this hostile maze.  Finding hope through the possibilities of peace is almost impossible when encouraged public expression for success is in killing “the other.”

Hope is a Catalyst

Hope empowers individuals and acts as a catalyst for positive societal change. When people collectively hold onto hope for a better future, they mobilize their efforts to bring about that change: the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had “a dream” driven by the hope for racial equality and justice. This hope – still burning in a nation’s heart – galvanizes millions of people to take action and continues to lead urgent changes.

The global response to climate change is fueled by hope for a sustainable and healthy planet. Swedish environmental and climate activist Greta Thunberg embodies the transformative power of hope. Her unwavering belief that change is possible has inspired millions of young people worldwide to demand action from their governments and advocate for a greener future. Her hope drives her to eyeball global leaders and demand urgent action. 

Thunberg scolded the world’s leaders in her speech at the 2019 United Nations Climate Action Summit by exclaiming, “How dare you” about their perceived indifference and inaction to the climate crisis. Her actions are a catalyst for young people worldwide to step forward and work toward a sustainable planet.

Israel and Palestine – Hope and Hate

What has happened during the past few days in Israel – brutal attacks against women, children, and aged citizens- is horrifying.  The visuals – well documented by the terrorists themselves and proudly shared – reinforce the energy that drives Hamas – a thirst for Jewish blood that seems impossible to quench.  

But what of the Palestinian people?  Is that their destiny? Their national desire? To endure endless retaliations that rekindle hate?  To change their future, they must find – or demand – capable, trustworthy leaders who inspire nation-building hope and abandon hatred as a preferred political path!  As Professor Snyder suggested, they must have people at the helm who offer agency and a pathway – a goal–oriented agency matched by plans to achieve that goal. 

And of Israel? For the rest of their lives, like countless generations, the memories of loved ones slaughtered helplessly will haunt family, friends, and the nation.  But that tormented energy and “how and why” questions will elevate the country toward agency and a pathway, as Snyder suggested:  “Now what and to where?”

Golda Meir, the Israeli Prime Minister, who shepherded a wounded nation through the surprise Yom Kippur War – another incredibly devastating, unexpected war that started 50 years almost to the day of this October 2023 Hamas attack – offered insight paralleling Professor Snyder’s insight. “Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us.”  Hate is a disease that must be overcome emotionally.

For all its generational waves of suffering, the Jewish people and the nation of Israel continue to draw upon the endless resource that will guide its collective next steps – faith and purpose standing on a foundation of enduring hope. That is the inspiring story of a people – as the Biblical Prophet Isaiah proclaimed, as “A light unto the nations” – with renewable positive energy to sustain itself and contribute to the world.

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The fast-paced world of today can frequently make us feel helpless in the face of its unavoidable challenges and disappointments, leaving us worn out and discouraged. Nonetheless, finding strategies to foster optimism can have a profoundly positive impact on one’s general wellbeing and capacity to overcome problems in life. Hope shouldn’t just be waiting around for things to get better; it should also involve setting realistic objectives, figuring out how to get there, and staying motivated. With enough time, effort, and practice, you can achieve your goals.

Initially, the first step toward transformation in your life is to comprehend and respect hope. Hope is frequently referred to as the “anchor of our soul,” giving stability and fortitude in the face of adversity. Studies have shown that people with high levels of hope enjoy a variety of benefits, including better physical health, greater life satisfaction, and success in achieving their goals more quickly. Hope helps neurologic patients too, as it does college students.

Hope also acts as a buffer against stress, anxiety, and depression, enabling us to deal with life’s daily challenges more effectively. And it aids our mental health demands in myriad ways.

Establish measurable objectives to inspire hope. Clear goals increase your chances of success while providing a sense of direction and purpose. Large goals should be broken down into smaller, manageable steps for easier tracking, and you should be willing to change them as needed.

Flexibility of thinking is the key to maintaining a healthy balance between optimism and realism by acknowledging that success can occasionally take unexpected twists. Not all goals are attainable, and alternatives that may, in some way, resemble this goal and that are within your grasp, need to be considered.

What else should we do? Plan routes to take you to your objectives. These plans of action work as road maps for completing tasks quickly and effectively. This proactive problem-solving exercise will instill confidence and hopefulness and give your future self the drive it needs for a bright future. Brainstorm numerous routes toward each objective while noting any potential roadblocks or hurdles along the way and inventing ways past them.

One thing I’ve always told my students and co-workers is that, when it comes to life and finances, never have only one stream of happiness or money. Your best bet here is to adhere to that principle, too.

Hope requires motivation, yet it can be difficult to stay motivated when suffering setbacks. Focusing on solutions or modifications for how to best handle upcoming challenges rather than what went wrong is a vital strategy for staying motivated when facing challenges. Positively framing these events will boost perseverance and optimism even during challenging times.

Establishing a network of allies (here’s where even acquaintances come in) is necessary for building optimism. Avoid negative circumstances that drain your energy and optimism, and surround yourself with upbeat, inspirational people.

Keep in touch with loved ones, friends, and networking groups who share your goals and can provide direction, inspiration, and support if you’re feeling down or hopeless. You should also look into professional therapy services because they have a wealth of tools and resources that can help you feel optimistic.

Adopt a growth mindset and self-compassion. Accept making errors as a necessary part of learning and developing; accept accomplishments and progress made; draw lessons from setbacks encountered along the way; and acknowledge the progress made despite setbacks. Acknowledging a growth attitude means embracing difficulty as a path to mastery while thinking skills and intelligence may improve with time. Developing this mindset can better prepare you to deal with difficulty while maintaining hope throughout your journey. The questions should always be: What can we do? Where is the solution? What have we missed?

As previously mentioned, growing optimism necessitates persistence, introspection, and deliberate action. You can learn to cultivate hope in yourself and adopt a positive outlook on life with effort and patience. This development process is within reach, and the rewards more than justify any effort made.

When all is considered, we must not give up on hope because it is the way to ensure a life with potential even in the darkest of times. Even though obstacles and setbacks will inevitably occur, it is critical that we never give up on trying to cultivate hope as part of developing optimism for the present and the future. With these resources at our disposal, we can get past any obstacles in the way of leading a more active, fulfilled, and satisfying life.

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Relying on intellect and knowledge, we embrace science and molecules that can be patented, tested, peer-reviewed and approved by third-party sources. However, as I look at the narratives of those who live and those that die — the people we seek to help and heal — I see within health information and innovation and the provider approach chinks in our armor. I see the too often-untapped human element that transforms marvelous medicines into people’s survival miracles. I see something missing from within the drug research, discovery and review process. I see that medical records remain challenging for professionals and patients to access and apply. I see how thoughtful communication can be used to create hope and avoid hype.

Communication defines how innovation can bring hope to humanity. Hope remains one of the most under-appreciated elements in the patient-treatment process.

I was a team lead when Hoffmann-La Roche introduced the first biologics for the treatment of cancer — alpha interferon. The launch activities included a New York City media briefing. The speaker line-up included the best and the brightest researchers in the biopharma oncology field — including Dr. Jerry Groopman, the now Dina and Raphael Recanati Chair of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Chief of Experimental Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Groopman is an outstanding scientist who has grappled for years with the role “hope” plays in healing.

Through the years, I have revisited Groopman’s outstanding volume, The Anatomy of Hope — How People Prevail in the Face of Illness. The book recounts his journey into medicine. The challenges physicians face as they look into the stares of people they treat with a life-threatening illness and chronic disease. The physician’s hunger for information and how the “ideology of the right to know,” can also suffocate patient hope. It’s the story of a great physician/scientist trying to balance his passion for the lab and patient care, with the universe we cannot see or touch.

“I understand hope as an emotion made up of two parts: a cognitive part and an effective part. When we hope for something, we employ, to some degree, our cognition, marshaling information and data relevant to a desired future event. If…you are suffering with a serious illness and you hope for improvement, even for a cure, you have to generate a different vision of your condition in your mind. That picture is painted in part by assimilating information about the disease and its potential treatments.

“But hope also involves what I would call affective forecasting — that is, the comforting, energizing, elevating feeling that you experience when you project in your mind a positive future. This requires the brain to generate a different affective, or feeling, state than the one you are currently in.”

Jerome Groopman, The Anatomy of Hope — How People Prevail in the Face of Illness

Throughout my career journey, as a combat medic, health policymaker, health communications professional, I embraced (and will continue to respect) orders and legal, medical and regulatory direction. Along with my rewarding life in heath communications, as an ordained rabbi, called upon to visit the ill and very ill, I find myself walking hospital hallways and being welcomed into people’s homes, listening, comforting and, yes, hoping for their recovery and return to health.

In the past 30 years, I have been privileged to help biopharmaceutical and health tech companies introduce scores of new medicines and devices into the marketplace for lifestyle and medical conditions. Today, in my varied leadership roles, I see my colleagues around the world dedicate themselves — with incredible heart and smarts — to ensure balanced, accurate information is shared so that people — patients, physicians, payers and advocates — can make informed decisions on next steps.

I remain amazed at how many obstacles exist that diminish quality care and people’s — both physician’s and patient’s hope — from challenges to accessing medical records as people journey from one medical institution to another to switching people’s medication for no apparent reason to struggling to gain sufficient talk time with their doctor to understand what is happening with their medical condition.

It’s frustrating. Yet, let us not despair. Let’s be optimistic. Medicine and hope are allies in healing. Communication is not separate from the collective mission to heal. Communication is hope’s bridge that unites science with care, and physicians and patients with their inner fire to heal and be healed.

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