If you want just the short answer, the fundamental difference is action vs inaction. If I’m actively working on starting my own business and have a positive mindset about it, I’m hoping it will be successful. Psychologically speaking, hope actually has significant side effects which I will describe below. If I’m seating on my ass and imagine I’m going to have a successful business, that’s wishful thinking. Wishful thinking comes with declining ownership, responsibility, all with a touch of magical thinking, expecting someone else to ‘grant’ us what we wish for.
Hope is a belief that the future or a future outcome will be better than the present, while we have the power to influence it, despite some degree of uncertainty. But this uncertainty does not bother us that much, because nothing in life is certain.
The mechanism
Believe it or not, some people have studied their whole life the mechanism of hope.
According to Shane Lopez, one of the biggest researchers on the topic, people that hope share some common beliefs. They believe that the future will be better, they can influence it, there are many ways to get there and none is free of obstacles. If there wouldn’t be uncertainty, it would be just a sure shot: no need to hope since you are confident in the outcome.
According to Dr Charles Snyder, in order to hope, you need a goal, some ways to achieve it and an agent. The goal must be yours and outside your immediate reach. Multiple ways to achieve it means there are some options at hand and you admit there isn’t just one single way to get there. That implies you have a Plan B. The agent is you, intentionally pursuing that goal.
Why hope is positive
In both theories, hope is goal-oriented. Therefore it makes you more willing to work towards a goal and keep up a sustained rhythm. Having a positive mindset, you enjoy the journey. That is also because it increases pain tolerance (and when I say pain I mean both physical and psychological pain). Being the opposite of despair, it drives away anxiety and depression.
According to research, some correlations have been observed. While undergoing a medical treatment, being hopeful of a positive outcome can increase the chances of healing better or faster.
The act of hoping makes you exercise various pathways in which a goal could get fulfilled. By giving more focused thought, you also discover possible impediments. That activates your problem-solving skills. It might also show you what you are missing (a skill, a tool, a connection).
Last, but not least, it gives you a feeling that whatever lies ahead can be overcome.
What do you need to do?
There are a few things you could do. if being or feeling hopeful doesn’t come natural to you:
- Stick around optimistic people. Pessimists like to pretend they are “realists”. They aren’t, because reality is that positive things may happen, with the proper due diligence in place.
- Get some good rest. Without sleep you become anxious and anxiety links to despair which fades away hope.
- If the original goal looks impossible, find a substitute. Hope is realistic.
- Get some physical exercise to boost your mood.
- Be present, to be able to observe all the ‘small’ things around you.
In conclusion, hope for the best and do something to make it happen!
