The Real Work Behind Hope

Sometimes the hardest person to give hope to is yourself.

I've been thinking about something lately that keeps me up at night. Not in a bad way, but in that restless, "I need to get this out" kind of way.

Do we put ourselves in positions where we build up so much that it becomes hard to live up to?

Here's what I mean. All the things I do to maintain my health and mental strength? They're not easy. At all. The daily practices, the mindset work, the constant choosing hope over fear. It's exhausting some days.

And I've been wondering if I'm really being transparent enough about that reality.

The Truth Behind Authentic Hope

My goal has always been impact. I want my story to matter. I want it to reach the person who needs it most, right when they need it most. But here's the thing that keeps me awake: I don't want to provide false hope.

At the same time, I completely understand how my near delusional attitude has kept me going. It's been a huge part of my healing. My persistence. My ability to keep showing up when everything in me wanted to quit.

That "impossible is optional" mindset? It's not just a catchphrase. It's literally how I've survived brain cancer. But it's also not always pretty. It's not always Instagram worthy. Sometimes it looks like crying in my car after a doctor's appointment and then getting out and choosing to believe anyway.

The Daily Work of Hope

This is where the H.O.P.E. Algorithm becomes real, not just theoretical:

HYPER-AWARE: Recognizing when hope feels forced or when authenticity demands admitting struggle. Being aware that maintaining hope is work, not magic.

OPEN-HEARTED: Staying receptive to both the difficulty and the possibility. Allowing yourself to feel the weight while still choosing the light.

PERSISTENT: Showing up for hope even when you don't feel hopeful. Understanding that persistence isn't about perfection.

EMPOWERING: Trusting that your honest struggle with hope is more empowering than pretending it's easy.

The Paradox of Living Your Message

So here I am, wondering if I should "fix" something that isn't broken. Maybe that's exactly the right attitude? I don't know. What I do know is that I have so much to do, and my purpose is crystal clear to me.

I'm not here to pretend that hope is easy. I'm here to show you that it's possible. Even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard.

The reality is this: maintaining hope isn't a one time decision. It's a daily choice. Sometimes an hourly choice. And some days, you choose it not because you feel it, but because you know you need it.

When Hope Becomes Your Responsibility

Being known as "The Hope Guy" comes with weight. People look to you for answers when you're still figuring out the questions. They expect consistency when you're learning to be human.

But maybe that's the point. Maybe the most hopeful thing you can do is show up imperfectly and trust that your authentic struggle is exactly what someone else needs to see.

Your Permission to Be Real With Your Hope

You're allowed to struggle with your own message. You're allowed to question whether you're doing enough, being enough, sharing enough. You're allowed to wonder if your attitude is helping or hurting.

But here's what I've learned: the very fact that you're questioning it means you care. And caring is the first step toward impact.

Your story doesn't have to be perfect to be powerful. Your hope doesn't have to be constant to be real. Your healing doesn't have to be linearto be valid.

You're not broken if you're questioning your approach. You're human. And sometimes, being human is the most hopeful thing you can be.

The Spark You're Looking For

I hope those who need to see these words do. I hope they inspire the spark you need for your path. Not because I have it all figured out, but because I'm figuring it out right alongside you.

Hope isn't about having all the answers. It's about being willing to keep asking the questions. It's about showing up imperfectly and trusting that your authenticity is exactly what someone else needs to see.

The weight of being the person others look to for hope? It's real. But so is the privilege. So is the responsibility. So is the opportunity to show that hope isn't about perfection.

Hope isn't a passive wish. It's a strategy. And sometimes that strategy includes admitting you don't have it all figured out.

That's not failure. That's courage.

What questions are you afraid to ask yourself? What would happen if you asked them anyway?

Your authentic struggle with hope might be the most hopeful thing you can offer the world. Because when people see that even "The Hope Guy" has to work at it, they realize they can work at it too.

Impossible is optional. Even when it doesn't feel that way. Especially then.

Check out my buddy, Mike Hugo’s story he’s another HOPE catalyst.