The Power of Hope

"On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord." --President Barack Obama

Almost two years ago, a small army of mostly young people, joined in a most unlikely campaigna movement to elect Barack Obama president. Obamas message was one of hope, the spirit of the campaign, simple yet profoundYes, we can.

The candidate reminded citizens that the United States is a land of possibilities and if its citizens are engaged, there is no force we cannot overcome, no challenge we cannot meet, no goal we cannot obtain.

As the campaign message grew louder, the ranks of the campaign grew stronger. By foot, by phone, by video and by email, those early messengers of hope helped the candidate move a country to change and the results were resounding.

Now as the country faces two wars, a collapsing health care system, and an economic crisis the likes of which we havent experienced since the Great Depression, its more important than ever that we hold on to the spirit of hope.
Keep Hope Alive

So how do we make it through such stressful timesas individuals and a nationwithout it damaging our psyche and dampening our spirit? By rejecting fear and continuing to hope, we can become agents of change. And we can start our own movement by becoming active.

When fear and uncertainty strike, we can react in one of two ways--let fear paralyze us or let it ignite us to move. By moving, we trigger mechanisms in our brain that allow us to think more creatively, and in a more positive way. By internalizing the spirit of the Obama movement -- the hope and sense of activism that propelled so many--especially young peopleby moving, by talking, by becoming engaged, we can become our own agents of change.By connecting to others, to our community and to our planet, and moving away from a self-focused life, we can make it through this time of transition. We cant passively wait for change to happen, we have to make it happen. To get through the tough times ahead, we must take to heart the spirit that propelled Barack Obama to the White House. Each day we reject fear and elect to hope, we are moving in the direction of change, for ourselves and our country. Yes, we can.
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