I love it when just what I need arrives in my inbox.

"Hope is not a method or a strategy" was a favorite and ongoing message of one of my mentors. Another friend and colleague would always remind me "take care of the downside the topside will take care of itself".

Significant research related to effective goal setting and accomplishment evidences that when setting a goal examining the obstacles and hurdles to its accomplishment increases exponentially the probability of success. That is, even if the anticipated obstacles are different than those actually encountered. This all makes sense to me.

On the other hand is there an appropriate place for "hope" in our lives, my life? Assuredly, the realm of no hope or hopeless seems a dark, dreary place.

Isn't the mere fact of getting up in the morning, starting each day, some evidence of hope?

What do we actually mean by "hope"? Do we use the word interchangeably with "faith"?

Ugh. I've a whole folder on my desktop containing articles, quotes and various resources on themes related to these two words.

The folder is now open. What hope do I have of reviewing the contents, write about and make some sense of it?