Hope: A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

The unpredictability of life can drive the incredible fear of reality which leads to the wishful thinking that is hope. The possession of a conscious understanding of one’s own futility can be a guide to the most irrational positions which are propped up by this profound necessity for hope, or so we understand it to be a necessity. However, the focus of this narrative is to understand what hope truly is and how it can have the most damaging effects on one’s perception of reality.

In the possible scenarios and experiences that I can employ as examples of hope in use, it tends to be a fail-safe for ill-prepared actions. Take, for instance, the hope of good medical results pending the diagnosis of a fatal disease. Hope will not actual change the test results, only the outlook which also has no bearing on the facts of the diagnosis. The invocation of hope is the last refuge from reality for someone who has concluded that they have exhausted all their feasible options, believing that a positive outlook will result in a prosperous outcome. Psychologically, the process of this positive thinking seems to be useful, but the concept is completely irrational as it relays responsibility from the individual onto an unknown entity outside of reality. The use of hope in the same context also leads to a buildup of anxiety, constantly worrying about the possible outcomes via possible scenarios, a task of better use prior to any action. Proper preparation, regardless of a positive or negative outcome, will lead to either the intended result or the ability to properly understand the events that transpire following an action. This process of preparation is crucial for coming to terms with reality as it enables one to either adjust their methods to alter the future outcome or to come to the realization that such a possibility is not feasible at all.

Hope, the wolf in sheep’s clothing. It allows an individual to evade the reality of a situation which, in some cases, can be detrimental to continued existence. Hope provides such an enticing service, allowing for the participant to ignore their troubles and the subsequent options they have. When the wolf finally shows its teeth, it will be too late to alter the course of events. Another sheep devoured by its hope instead of being strengthened by the proper knowledge of its reality.