April
April is the month of Hope. While spring is also a time of renewal, growth, and fresh starts, the concept of Hope is the foundation for all of this. We have just been through a terrible winter, literally and metaphorically, where many of us lost Hope. During that bleak time, I yearned for a return to a more innocent and hopeful era such as the 1950’s in America. Every Easter and Passover, I celebrate a feeling of hopefulness by playing a song called “That’s Heaven to Me” written in the late 1950’s by Sam Cooke, one of my favorite songwriters and gospel singers of the 1950’s and 1960’s. His voice and lyrics capture innocence, faith and hope:
Signs of Hope
The things that I see
As I walk along the streets
That’s heaven to me
A little flower that blooms in May
A lovely sunset at the end of a day
Someone helping a stranger along the way
That’s heaven to me
The feeling I have when I hear a touching prayer
Makes me know, that God is somewhere near
Even the birds flying around in the air
That’s heaven to me
It doesn’t have to be a miracle
For me to see
The goodness of my God
Is everywhere to me, oh, oh, oh
Even the children playing in the street
Sing a friendly hello to everyone that they meet
Even the leaves blowing out on a tree
That’s heaven to me
Source: Musixmatch
Song: That’s Heaven To Me; Songwriters: Sam Cooke
Sam Cooke continued to inspire us with hope when he wrote a darker song called A Change is Gonna Come curing the civil rights movement. Tragically, Sam Cooke died in 1964 but his legacy lives on in his songs. This is important because we often need an example or a reminder when we are in a dark time in our life. Dr. Shane Lopez, positive psychologist and author of “Making Hope Happen” writes “hopeful thoughts and behaviors propel everyone toward wellbeing and success.” Research shows that Hope is also correlated with purposeful action, health, and longevity. Dr. Lopez explains that hope is not just positive thinking or affirmations. Hope implies that you have a goal, a vision, and that you take action.
Stories of Hope
Helping someone regain hope is one of the best things you can do for a person who is suffering adversity or loss. Besides playing inspirational music, you can engender Hope By telling a story about someone overcoming a setback or obstacle. That happened for me in a very strange way.
As a psychologist I was asked to evaluate a woman to see if she was fit to regain custody of her child. We talked in depth for a number of hours. She shared that she had once been a missionary before her life took a wrong turn. She could tell that I was very curious about her work as a missionary. Spontaneously she said that she knew a book that I might enjoy called Angels of Humility by Jackie Macgirvin. This patient knew nothing about my personal life. The book was a story about an older woman who loses her husband and is ready to give up. Luckily, through a chance encounter with a pastor she eventually regains hopefulness and goes on the help many people. This book was a lifesaver for me. What the patient who recommended the book didn’t know is that my husband had just died and I was barely hanging in there. Reading the book helped me regain a sense of Hope and purpose. Do you call this a strange coincidence? I call it a miracle.
Hope in the Community
What I want to do for you as a coach is to be that person who brings Hope back into your life. Listen to inspirational music and watch or read a story about someone succeeding when the odds are against them. Be a beacon of Hope in your community. An example of this is Marilyn Chappell, a woman named as an honoree by a nonprofit called Giving Hope and Help. Marilyn is the founder and CEO of her own nonprofit, Exceeds Expectations. Her vision is to end generational poverty by increasing financial literacy through strategic partnership. I once had the privilege of being able to speak at one of her stellar women’s conferences on the topic of organizing your workday.
Hope in the Workplace
We all need something to look forward to: something to Hope for. Dr. Shane Lopez talks about leaders and employers creating excitement about the future. As a business coach, I am working with owners to show them how to make an employee feel more hopeful. Dr. Lopez says “These engaged employees are the products of hopeful leadership. They are more innovative and productive than others and they are more likely to be with the company for the long haul”. Sadly, this leadership is lacking in man y of the businesses that I encounter. As a result these businesses are doing poorly. Robert Mitchell, owner of Kwik Dry Restoration (417=812-4131) is flourishing and so are his employees. Robert respects his employees, offers a career path, and instills a Hope for the future. Dr. Shane Lopez says that Hope is contagious. Robert Mitchell’s hope is contagious to all the business associates that he mentors and encourages.
Weekend of Hope
April is the month to regain your Hope. Treat yourself to a weekend that will awaken in innocent sense of expectation that something good is about to happen. Visit my vacation rental, Sabbath Sojourn in Buffalo Missouri nestled in Mennonite farm land. Watch cows and horses grazing in lush fields and listen to Sam Cooke sing “That’s Heaven to Me”
