Most of us have heard someone say, “I’m hoping for the best.” Many of us have probably even used the phrase at some point.
This saying usually accompanies a situation when we don’t yet know an outcome. It could be a medical diagnosis, a life change, employment, or even when we are burned out in a position and hoping for change.
Other ideas that may be interchanged with “hoping for the best” are anticipating something, setting your heart on it, looking on the bright side, or making the best of things.
Let’s take a closer look at “hoping for the best” and unpack the truth behind it.
In This Article
What is Negative About Hoping for the Best
The other portion often stated with “hoping for the best” is “preparing for the worst.”
While the phrase is categorized as an idiom and supposedly doesn’t have literal meaning, it is readily used as an expression to describe our feelings about a situation.
Another example of an idiom is “raining cats and dogs.” Or maybe you’ve heard “once in a blue moon” which means that it rarely happens. Sometimes we say, “Break a leg,” if we’re wishing luck to an actor. Another idiom is “the ball is in your court.”
There aren’t defined meanings for these other than what we have learned them to be.
Now that we understand idioms, it’s safe to say that “hoping for the best, preparing for the worst” appears to have a more literal meaning than other examples.
We’re looking for the best in something even though we think it’s doubtful or don’t believe it will happen. We may even consider giving up.
Although “hoping for the best” seems like a simple saying, it has become a way of life. When accompanied with “preparing for the worst,” it plays on our expectations and even our mindset. Over time, this takes place without a second thought.
Let’s look at how the saying is hindering your journey and your outcomes.
Why We Struggle When Hoping for the Best
When we use this phrase, it appears that there is at least some amount of hope involved.
However, it’s quickly demeaned by the negative thought that we are preparing for the terrible consequences that might happen.
This thought process creates protection for when we potentially receive bad news in a situation. We think that somehow it will be easier and less disappointing if we are ready.
This type of mindset creates space for a greater focus of what “might” happen.
A “what if” scenario is quick to create gaps in our wellness and encourages a back-and-forth volley that often brings on more difficulties. It changes our focus.
Enough hard situations take place in life without anticipating or worrying about them.
Our past experiences have tainted a mindset of possibility to be hopeful for a better result. No one is immune to the trials of life. So, it’s easy to decide that we’re safer “expecting the worst.”
This mindset creates a negative outlook and despair when attempting to be hopeful. It pertains to all parts of life including personal and family situations, gatherings, holidays, employment, and many others.
How Others Contribute to Our Struggle
It’s reality that we have difficulties and are faced with challenges. Sometimes it feels like a daily occurrence.
When we try to have a hopeful focus, even a tiny glimmer, those around us can also hinder the process. Not only do we encounter narcissistic people daily, but a quick glimpse around creates a defeated mindset and outlook. It can decrease social wellness.
So much is happening in the world that makes us think hope might be pointless. It also leads to a view of remaining prepared for the worst part of anything that is yet to come.
We rely on others to boost our confidence and be on our side. When the opposite of this happens, it changes our mindset and outlook. The safety that we sought or expected is absent which changes the hopeful stance that was there.
People can hurt us and dissolve a positive notion that we had if we give them the power to do so.
Changing Your Outlook About Hoping for the Best
With a stage set for possible defeat even though we’re “hoping for the best,” let’s look at how we begin to change the writing on the wall.
Of course, we know it’s better to focus on the positive aspect of the phrase than the negative follow-up. But how do we do that?
Any result other than what we expected can get us down. But depending on our outlook, our mindset drives the steps moving forward, and it is powerful!
Jobs, health, relationships, mindset triggers, and feelings of being let down bring unwanted results.
When something goes wrong, and we’re left picking up the pieces, it’s easy to take the low road so to speak.
It can define much of our life and many of our situations with negativity or even a secret expectation of demise.
Maintaining what we assume is a safe outlook is dragging us farther from authentic hope.
It’s up to us to make the choice for change. Instead of allowing our mindset to habitually shift to the negative aspects, try leaving those views behind.
It’s a revolving door, and it takes intention to remove yourself from it.
Choose to begin looking at your circumstances differently to discourage the negative thought processes that we so readily allow.
Let’s look deeper at how to do this.
Learning How to Wait Well
We stay busy, are distracted by daily circumstances that need attention, and are unintentionally mindless about our thoughts. It’s time to put a stop to this habit.
We should learn to “wait well” during situations where we don’t yet know the outcome.
This is not about being patient, it’s about changing your thought process.
There is often a view of disappointment with where we are in life. We sometimes ask, “Is this it? Is this all there is?”
Instead of conditioning our mind to focus on hope, we turn to thoughts for protection or assuming the worst. We also look at our situation and feel impatience with what we think it should be instead.
Rather than allow this focus to hijack your mind, start to look at the better parts of what you’re surrounded by. While this can sometimes be difficult, leaning into the smallest—even foundational—part is necessary.
It might take stripping away other distractions to gain a better viewpoint.
Let’s look at more steps we can take.
A Perspective Other Than Waiting
The first point is to shift our mindset from waiting to see what happens to being active—and even proactive—during this time.
Waiting creates space for too many thoughts and concerns to drift in. A better perspective is important when attempting to take control of your thoughts. This is a vital part of making a change.
Optimistic perspectives create greater thoughts.
When we begin to take control of our thoughts, we realize there is less room for negativity and the focus of “what if.”
Our desires and anticipations can be driven by what we’ve experienced rather than an expectation of what’s possible. This is not a true measure of hope.
If we say we’re hopeful, then place boundaries on it, is it really hope? Or is it a portion of what might be available?
Gaining understanding of our role in waiting well and choosing to be hopeful is important.
A Focus on Patience When Hoping for the Best
Some people cringe at the word patience. It’s often joked about as a missing virtue that we don’t know how to acquire.
The correct perspective about patience can open our minds.
We usually assume patience means enduring a situation, monitoring our time, or even tolerating something without complaint. However, a new perspective helps us realize that patience is an action word, not a passive thought.
Operating well when waiting builds patience.
This might include focusing on others, acting on hopeful next steps, or staying mindful which helps with acceptance and peace.
Patience is a characteristic that we choose. It’s not always easy, but practice helps bring a habitual mindset for better outcomes.
Just as with realizing that “waiting well” doesn’t entail sitting around actually waiting, patience encourages a greater view for what is to come.
It gives us an opportunity to prepare, not for the worst, but rather for what’s next.
A New Mindset When Hoping for the Best
Now that we’ve looked at perspective and patience, let’s dig deeper into the concept of our mindset. Mindfulness skills are important to use.
We know that “hoping for the best and expecting the worst” demonstrates both sides of the coin. We have established that this has become a habitual way of life for many of us.
Mixing hope with despair creates a poor outcome and even disrupts opportunity for a healthy mindset.
Accepting that there are many things we can’t control—most things in fact—is alright. Your mind is very powerful. It’s a strong part of your entire being. It’s the driving force for many other parts.
Continuously thinking about or waiting on the worst in a situation can bring about negative change.
When you understand this, it helps your outlook and encourages a different stance.
Over time, we change. We gain wisdom and our character emerges. As life happens, we have the decision to alter our mindset. We cannot always control what happens, but we control ourselves.
With a greater understanding of the power of mindset, it encourages a stronger ability for increasing hope. But this isn’t the idiom hope that was mentioned in the saying. We’ll look next at authentic hope and how it can be life changing.
Trading in the Saying for Authentic Hope
Going back to where we started, “hoping for the best” is just a saying. Although we have developed a way of life around it, there isn’t authenticity in it.
This idea, along with society’s definition of hope isn’t the same as authentic spiritual hope.
It’s said that hope is based on our desires and even the expectation of them.
Spiritual hope is realizing that although we don’t have the answers, we can “wait well” while believing that better is to come. The focus isn’t on when or how, it’s on the idea that things will happen.
The word faith is often tied in with hope. We’ll look at faith as the belief that God can do things. Hope is anticipating that He will do them.
One of the most important points about spiritual hope is understanding that our parameters, expectations, past experiences, etc., do not determine the outcome.
Mind and spirit are two different parts of us, but they work closely together. As we gain knowledge and deeper understanding of Biblical promises, we gain hope.
The greatest news is that our past, our own knowledge, abilities, or efforts don’t set the stage for authentic hope. There are steps we can take to increase this hope and create greater outcomes. Let’s look at some of these.
Realizing Your Identity Creates Hope
We mentioned that there is often need for hope in situations regarding a medical diagnosis, a life change, job situation, or even when we are burned out in a position and hoping for change.
Also, that we use those things we’ve experienced to set boundaries for our hope.
Authentic hope goes beyond these guidelines. It allows opportunities that we couldn’t even imagine. And this is true for anyone. It’s available to everyone.
Understanding our identity as a child of God opens our eyes to this new mindset for hope. Being a child of the King makes us princes and princesses.
According to the Bible, we are all children of God. This is true even if we don’t believe it, have questions, or if we have declared that we don’t want the opportunity.
No matter where we stand, the offer doesn’t change. Ever. God is faithful and never changing. So even though we shift continuously, He is our constant.
Therefore, we can find hope in Him. He’s always there. He’s capable to handle anything we face which means we can stop waiting on the worst in our situations. Because even our worst is still overseen by Him when we choose to believe.
Be cautious not to interchange authentic hope with perfection or an easy life. We were never promised these things. We still take steps, learn, grow, shape our character, and gain wisdom. It allows us to help each other see the way and even encourages empathy to one another.
As a child of God, you understand that there will always be a better option. Hope is real and when looked at correctly, its authenticity creates a stronger mindset.
Character Traits That Accompany Hope
Gaining a deeper understanding of authentic hope encourages a mindset that increases action steps and great characteristics.
Some traits that are found in those with greater hope are humility, love, peace, patience, kindness, and wisdom.
This contrasts the difficult emotions that stick with us when we “prepare for the worst.” Some of these are fear, hurt, anxiety, anger, doubt, and jealousy.
The newfound characteristics come from the belief that we’re not responsible for every outcome that takes place. While we have choices to make, everything doesn’t hinge on our knowledge, ability, comprehension, or strength.
When we remove the stress and weight of all the potential outcomes, it brings peace to our situation.
Finding Peace from Authentic Hope
We were not made to be out of balance. Wellness depends greatly on balance of our mind, body, and spirit.
When our body is out of balance, it creates stress on our systems and our mind. As discussed regarding whole body wellness, any area that is unbalanced takes the attention.
Authentic peace comes from understanding that we aren’t in control. Spiritually, there’s a bigger entity beyond us. As we accept this, and lean into Biblical truths, we gain peace. Praying is another step toward hopefulness.
Optimism is created when we focus on the belief that we don’t have to figure everything out. And we’ll never be perfect or always right.
This allows the perspective that positivity isn’t always present, and that’s alright. Hardships are real, life happens, but we can stay hopeful and optimistic for a better day. This rather than insist on a stance of continued positivity helps with balance.
Peace comes with the realization that nothing is always perfect. Not even a positive attitude.
We rest in knowing that our outlook of optimism is authentic because no matter what we walk through, there is always better on the other side. We may not know what it looks like yet, but it’s there.
Final Thoughts About Hope vs. Hoping for the Best
We looked at the idea that “hoping for the best” is an idiom that doesn’t have literal meaning. However, we have shaped it into a real-life occurrence by waiting on negative outcomes.
By addressing the focus of waiting well, it allowed us to see the steps for a better mindset. Increased wellness in this realm encourages a healthier outlook.
We continued into the discussion of our identity as a child of God. This creates a much-needed focus on optimistic outcomes. Authentic hope is birthed from the belief of our identity and the promises that accompany it.
Hope is attainable and can bring about lasting spiritual and whole-body wellness.