“Hope, trust, become” is my mantra. My mantra is based on my core beliefs and my life perspective.

1. Hope.

Hope for me is a core belief in optimism. My worldview is optimistic. I embrace a positive outlook for the future, I choose to expect positive outcomes with respect to personal circumstances and life events. I believe in setting attainable goals, finding a way to success and the will to shape my future.

Hope is a global concept and dates to before the 12th century. Hope refers to something that is not present, or visible but certain to take place.

Hope Theory

Hope Theory was first developed by Dr. Charles R Snyder, an American psychologist. He was a professor of “positive psychology.”

According this theory hope has 3 prongs, including:

1. goals,

2. pathways, and

3. willpower.

In daily life and individual sets goals, takes steps to achieve those goals and has the motivation to achieve the goal. Achieving the goal is empowering and reinforces hope in achievement of other goals.

Dr. Snyder wrote The Psychology of Hope which provides practical tools for those looking for the way forward and the will to pursue it.

He also coauthored with Diane McDermott the children’s book “The Great Big Book of Hope: Help Your Children Achieve Their Dreams.”

2. Trust

Trust Verses Mistrust

According to Sullivan’s interpersonal theory of psychiatry, self-identity is built over a child’s formative years of life experience. A child’s trust is built on perceived nurturing behavior and language that fosters health and wellbeing.

Trust is fundamental to positive interpersonal interactions. If a child experiences positive regard from significant others, and nurturing that is reliable and satisfying trust in relationships and the environment develops. As children grow they begin to explore their surroundings.

A child’s trust in self and others reinforces development of positive self identity and trust in the environment. Supportive adults encourage children to strengthen motor and social skills. Children learn to become self reliant and resilient. As youth emancipate and enter adulthood, they become capable of functioning independently, are self reliant, make sound choices and life decisions.

Questions for Reflection

1. What was your childhood experience of trust or mistrust of your relationships and environment?

2. Do you trust yourself?

3. What is your life perspective?

3. Become

To become is to gain self-awareness, begin to be, attain life goals in ever changing surroundings.

The concept of “Becoming” originated in ancient Greece in the 6th century. Heraclitus and later Plato believed life is in constant flux. Heraclitus provides us with an analogy;

Becoming is a journey to self actualization.

Self Leadership

Self leadership is the ability to lead oneself. Self leadership is learned and can be developed, improved, and honed. Self leadership is built on acceptance of self, positive self-regard, self-assurance, self-reliance, accountability, autonomy and determination.

To become your desired self, think of all the possible paths you might choose to follow. You alone are the architect of your life. Your life will become what you strive to create. Thinking, intention, planning, goal setting, executing lead to achievement of your potential. Many perspectives exist on the concept of self-actualization.

One perspective on self-actualization is that of humanistic psychologist Abraham Maslow. According to his theory of self actualization it is the process of becoming "everything you are capable of becoming."