A friend of mine who hasn't had much luck with the last few interviews he's gone on had an interview today for a job he really wants. In my conversations with him leading up to the important moment, I found him reluctant to be hopeful about his prospects of landing the position, even though he is more than qualified and presents well.
I understand how he feels though. If you've been disappointed a few times, it's an emotional gamble to get your hopes up. This is true of a lot of situations in life, including love. Experiencing letdowns and heartbreak, for example, may make a person reluctant about feeling hopeful when they meet someone they feel a connection with.
Thankfully, the truth is that having hope in no way diminishes our chances.
In fact, avoiding the vulnerability that having hope exposes you to diminishes the real you. It tamps down your spirit and conceals your authenticity, which are the very things that could land you a job you want or ignite passion between you and another person.
It's a much bigger risk to try to hedge your hope in arbitrary ways to protect yourself from feeling vulnerable and ashamed for wanting something.
Building a wall between yourself and hope keeps you from realizing how resilient you are because you artificially distance yourself from what you're capable for withstanding. Not knowing that can be terrifying.
So be hopeful. Let the vulnerability that comes with having hope expand you and put you within reach of what you want in life, including greater awareness of your boundless strength.