Power of Hope

Imagine this: a suburban school in the United States decided to conduct an intriguing experiment. Two classrooms, two teachers – nothing extraordinary at first glance. The twist? A simple message.

One teacher was told that her class consisted of brilliant kids from educated families of lawyers, doctors, and business moguls. The other teacher was informed that her class was made up of poor, slow, and low-performing students. The teachers believed the descriptions, and so began their journeys.

The Result?
– The first class soared. Their performance exceeded expectations, with every student outperforming their perceived abilities.
– The second class stumbled, performing far below their potential.
This, my friends, is the Pygmalion Effect in action.

It’s also known as the Golem Effect, where low expectations lead to a significant drop in performance. The name comes from the mythical golem, a clay creature in Jewish folklore. While initially created to protect, the golem eventually spiraled out of control, symbolizing how unchecked negativity can lead to chaos.

Lessons from Elephants

Hope isn’t just a human trait. Let me take you to the vast African plains, where a baby elephant fell into a canal. With no immediate help, the elephant herd did something remarkable. They walked miles to a nearby village, trumpeting and screaming for attention. The villagers, armed with ropes, tires, and logs, joined forces to rescue the calf. After five hours of relentless effort, they succeeded.

The herd’s reaction? They cried and screamed with joy, like teenage girls at a Justin Bieber concert!

But here’s the kicker:
– Who gave them hope?
– Who taught them to seek help?

If animals can muster hope and rely on others, what’s stopping humans from turning to their Creator for support?

The Cost of Losing Hope

The opposite of hope is despair. And despair is no minor inconvenience; it’s a silent epidemic.

Consider this:
– Suicide ranks as the second leading cause of death among youth after road accidents.
– Celebrities like Matthew Perry and Sushant Singh Rajput, who inspired millions, succumbed to the shadows of despair. They made us laugh, cry, and dream, but battled their darkest moments alone.

Despair doesn’t stop there. It leads to anxiety, depression, obesity, and eventually crime. It’s a feeling of hopelessness, defeat, and worthlessness. Cognitive despair, in particular, traps us in negative thoughts about the future.

The Antidote to Despair

Here’s the silver lining: Action is the antidote to despair.

When hope falters, act. Do something. Anything. Because even the smallest step can reignite the spark. And when you’re at your lowest, remember this – hope is not a luxury; it’s a necessity.

Want proof? Watch the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. It’s a masterclass in resilience, love, and yes, hope.

My Take as a Mindset Coach

As someone deeply invested in mindset coaching and education pedagogy, I’ve seen firsthand how hope transforms lives. It’s not just a feeling; it’s a strategy. Through my coaching, I’ve helped students, teachers, and professionals harness the power of hope to unlock their true potential.

Remember, hope is contagious. Let’s make it viral.
So, the next time you’re faced with despair, ask yourself: “What’s my action plan?” Because action is where hope begins.

Let’s be one. Let’s spread hope.

About the Writer

Dawood Vaid is an avid reader, a teacher trainer and an author. His book ‘The Education Riddle‘ and ‘TALK‘ are available on Amazon. Dawood has completed the certificate course on ‘Assessment and Teaching of 21st Century Skills’ by The University of Melbourne. An engineer and an MBA, he leads the curriculum development team at Sky Education, with focus on establishing Skill labs across schools. He resides in Mumbai and can be contacted at [email protected]