Demands from citizens for changes in government.
Demonstrations in the streets.
Destructive behaviors.
Denial.
For years we have seen this cycle of events play out before our eyes. At best, government leaders hear the pleas and make corrections in policies and procedures before the frustration spills into the streets.
At worst, protests lead to violence and people get hurt, fingers get pointed, and denials get loud.
Sometimes the violence leads to officer-involved shootings which can contribute to the narrative of systemic racism and social injustice which, in turn, can accelerate the decline in trust among all parties.
Yes, our society has a myriad of social issues that need strong leadership, selflessness, and solidarity.
Most importantly, though, our society needs hope.
Specifically, we need an understanding of the science and power of hope and its framework for empowering people, communities, and societies.
In my current hometown of Jackson, Mississippi, the daily news cycle regularly highlights the challenges and failings of local leadership as well as the violence between local residents.
What I don’t often hear is a vision or goals for how things can improve or articulation of pathways for achieving any goals. Instead, there seems to be this wish that problems would just take care of themselves or that someone would swoop in like Superman and heroically save the city.
If there is a goal, it's to get through the next news cycle without any lasting damage.
Recently, the Hope Science Institute of Mississippi was formed to promote throughout Mississippi the science and power of hope based on the work of Dr. Chan Hellman of Oklahoma University - Tulsa. Dr. Hellman’s work builds upon the work of a pioneer in Hope Theory: Dr. Rick Snyder.
Scientific research by both Dr. Hellman and Dr. Snyder found that hope requires three elements: goals, pathways, and willpower.
High-hope individuals are able to move fluidly between all three elements as they see a better future, set goals, determine pathways, overcome barriers, and are motivated to accomplish their goals.
Low-hope individuals struggle to imagine anything different, they ruminate over the past, their goals are unrealistic, they can’t make any progress because of roadblocks, and they descend into despair and eventually apathy.
Do these descriptions resonate? Can you see how our society can descend into a downward spiral where frustrations, factions, and failings become the norm? Is that the world you want for your children?
Dr. Snyder wrote in 2002 that the science and power of hope can actually contribute to “reducing risks and inoculating segments of society against despair.”
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For more information on “(Re)Building Trust: A Trauma-informed Approach to Leadership,” please visit my website mrchrisfreeze.com.
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Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash
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