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ecember brings the close of one year and the anticipation of a year yet to be. This month is filled with holidays such as Hanukkah and Christmas. Both holidays have stories rooted in the symbolism of hope and light in challenging times.
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A Season of Hope & Light
The Christmas story has an overriding message of hope in the birth of Jesus Christ. His life shows us the way of love and how to be a light in the darkness. His teachings reveal a trust and belief in something greater than ourselves. Hanukkah is celebrated over eight days and nights in December. The celebration focuses on how the Jewish people reclaimed their temple, found a small cruse of oil, and used it to light a menorah. There was only enough oil for one night, yet the holy light miraculously burned for eight days. As we prepare to transition from 2021 to 2022, let us not just “wish” that this coming year will be better than the last, but let us live in a season of hope. Why the difference? Wishing is passive and implies you have little impact on an outcome. Hope is a verb; it is a vision of what can be and pursuing it.
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Dr. Chan Hellman, a Professor & Founding Director of the HOPE Research Center at the University of Oklahoma, defines hope as “the belief that your future will be better than today, and that you have the power to make it so.” Through his decades of research on the science of hope, Hellman has found that hope is much more than wishful thinking. Hope is a cognition, not an emotion, it’s measurable, and it can be taught. Science tells us that it is the most predictive indicator of well-being in a person’s life.
How do you foster hope in your life? Hellman, along with his co-author Casey Gwynn in their book Hope Rising: How the Science of Hope Can Change Your Life share three simple markers that must be present in our pursuit of hope. First, we must have a goal in mind that we value and want to achieve. Then, we must define and develop pathways or a mental roadmap of possible ways to get to our desired destination. And finally, willpower, the sustained motivation on the path to your pursuit. Here is how the process might look in application. Write down your goal in as much detail as possible. It may be helpful to choose a goal for a specific area of your life, such as family, work, education, health, etc. Next, identify as many potential pathways that can help you reach your goal. Then, identify those things that could be barriers to overcome as you work toward your goal. Think about a time that you overcame a challenge to achieve the goal you desired. What is your vision of hope for 2022? What steps will you take toward a future that will be better than today? Established in 1900, First United has more than Established in 1900, First United has more than 85 bank, mortgage, and insurance locations throughout Oklahoma and Texas. It is one of the largest, well-capitalized banking organizations in the Southwest, with more than $10 billion in assets. It is among the largest privately held community banking organizations in the United States. First United provides a full range of financial services, including banking, mortgage, insurance, and investment products and services, with a primary focus to inspire and empower others to Spend Life Wisely®. Learn more at FirstUnitedBank.com. Member FDIC
