In frightening and uncertain times, its hard to feel hopeful.  Having hope for the future helps build resilience or our ability to get through tough times and recover more quickly from setbacks.  Hope can help us reduce anxiety, trauma, depression and more.

What is Hope?

The meaning of hope can vary from person to person.  For some, hope may have spiritual context, others may look at it as finding a brighter side and 'hoping for the best'.

Merriam-Webster's definition makes hope seem close to a wish "...to cherish a desire with anticipation; to want something to happen or be true"

To have hope is to want an outcome that makes your life better in some way.  Hope not only makes a tough present situation more bearable, but also can eventually improve our lives through envisioning a better future which motivates you to take steps to make it happen.  However you see hope, in general, it means a desire for things to change for the better and to greatly want that better situation.