“There comes a time when humanity is called to shift to a new level of consciousness, to reach a higher moral ground. A time when we have to shed our fear and give hope to each other.”

Wangari Maathai

It is difficult to watch the evening news today without feeling deeply discouraged. We hear of wars that continue to take innocent lives, violence in our communities, racism and hatred that divide individuals, families, and communities, corruption within governments, homelessness on our streets, and uncertainty about the potential risks of artificial intelligence. With so much troubling news being aired every night, fear can easily become the lens through which we view the world. Yet, perhaps, it is times like this when hope matters most.

Hope is not the same as optimism. Optimism assumes that somehow everything will eventually turn out well. Hope is more demanding. It recognizes suffering, injustice, and uncertainty while refusing to surrender to these things. Hope asks a different question: Given the world as it is, what can I do to help create the world as I believe it should be?

None of us can single-handedly end a war, eliminate homelessness, eradicate racism, reform a corrupt government, or determine how artificial intelligence will affect humanity. But acknowledging our limitations does not mean accepting powerlessness. We can begin by paying attention to what we allow to shape our consciousness. Being informed is important, but continuously consuming negative news can distort our perception of reality. Alongside stories of tragedy are countless stories that never become headlines — people caring for their neighbors, welcoming strangers, mentoring children, feeding the hungry, forgiving one another, and quietly making their communities better.

Gratitude can also nurture hope. When I consciously notice the people, experiences, and ordinary gifts for which I am grateful, I am reminded that darkness is never the entire story. Gratitude does not erase suffering. Rather, it widens the lens through which I view life and allows goodness to remain visible even during difficult times.

Hope also grows through relationships and meaningful action. We need people who encourage compassion, perspective, laughter, faith, and courage. And rather than remaining passive spectators to the world’s problems, we can become active participants in its healing. We can volunteer, mentor a young person, visit someone who is lonely, support a worthy cause, engage respectfully in civic life, or simply extend kindness to someone having a difficult day. We may not be able to change the whole world, but as Saint Mother Teresa calls us to do, we can make a difference by changing the world for just one person.

Perhaps each of us should periodically ask: What is my preferred future? What kind of family, community, nation, and world do I hope future generations will inherit? Then comes the more challenging question: What can I do today to move one small step closer to that future?

Wangari Maathai, a social activist from Kenya who passed away 25 years ago, reminds us that hope is a precious gift we give to one another. The future is uncertain, but uncertainty is not a reason for despair. We do not embrace hope because we know how the story will end. We embrace hope because the story is still being written—and each of us has some part in writing it.