Hope   May 2023   Hope is a subtle, sometimes unconscious attitude of heart and mind that is an essential resource in human life. The vital nature of mature hope helps us to remain open to the possibility that while life may not turn out the way we first thought, opportunities we never imagined may also arise. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012, hope was very strong medicine for me. It was intense waiting to see what stage the cancer was in, as well as the recommended treatment plan. I was intent on allowing all the emotions I had regarding the diagnosis to have their place and I was equally intentional to keep my practices of gratitude, hope, faith, and possibility alive and well.    I wore a button sign on my hospital gown the day of the mastectomy that said, “stop staring at my breasts.” This brought a great deal of levity and lightheartedness to the surgical teams and nursing staff. I recovered in record time and had no complications from the extensive surgery. The doctors were shocked and summed up my case as “she has a lot of spirit.” Hope was great medicine for me and many who have had similar experiences.    “Hope, one small daily dose, goes a very long way in my well-being." — Martha Creek   Most of us choose comfort over truth. But when you think about it, we don’t grow and transform in our comfort zones. You may have heard “Life begins at the end of our comfort zone.” We grow when we realize we are no longer able to control all of the conditions and circumstances of life and are therefore challenged to change the way we relate to life.    When we release our demands and desires for what used to be and our stressful longing for what we think should be, we are free to embrace the truth of what is. Even when we can’t embrace what is, we can allow for what is. Everything is included in the spectrum of life.   “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."   — Isaiah 40:31    No sane person wants to suffer. No sane parent wants children to suffer, however, suffering is part of life’s journey. Suffering will only be reduced or eliminated through wisdom, not by drenching it in sunshine or attempting to suppress and depress it.   When we get caught in anxiety and worry about what might happen in the future, it can quickly proliferate into a web of fear that is not easily corralled. Turning toward our suffering may plunge us into the very sadness, fear, and pain that we usually try so hard to avoid. If we are willing to brave the darkness by welcoming everything and pushing away nothing, the energy that had been consumed by our resistance to life’s unwelcome events will now be available to contribute to healing, building resilience, and acting with love.    “The very least you can do in your life is figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof."   — Barbara Kingsolver    I invite you to take any issue in your life and to activate a sense of hope around it — take it as it is medicine. There is nothing to lose. Nothing has actual power over you because love’s power and grounded hope will transform any experience. Thank you for being a source of “Hope” for me and my heart of hearts.    All my best,   Martha Creek 502-905-0783 marthacreek.com