The challenges of life are without question. In fact, as long as you are alive, you will be met with certain conditions that you never expected. You might even get to a point where you will begin to question a lot of things about yourself, and you may even want to begin to lose hope. In times when you feel overwhelmed, tempted to give up, and defeated, there is something that needs to keep you going - hope. No matter what you have lost, as long as you can still hold on to hope, then there will be a way out, and everything is not lost. ![hands-1838658_640.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmfBMfUEoiQP6JbiC9HAwhKoA6geH2B9DAQwqkqLC5tHbt/hands-1838658_640.jpg) _{Image from [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/photos/hands-macro-plant-soil-grow-life-1838658)} Hope goes beyond just wishful thinking, rather it is an inner conviction and the knowing that things will definitely get better. Hope can be likened to the light which you are expected to see at the end of the tunnel, which makes you not to give up inside the tunnel. When things look like they are falling apart, the little voice within you that tells you "do not quit" is the voice of hope. Holding on to hope does not mean denying the presence of darkness, rather it is focusing on the brighter side even if you are inside thick darkness. What you hold on to when things get tough will determine how you stand. The challenges of life are not meant to defeat you, even though they may test your strength, confidence, and patience. Rather, they are meant to polish you and make something better out of your life by making you a better version of yourself. The tougher the times that you experience, the better you should become. You have to hold on to the hope that you can actually overcome whatever life throws at you. In fact, for the fact that the challenges came to you, and for the fact that you are passing through it means that you can actually overcome. The people who have overcome some very difficult times did not do so because their journey was easier, but because they made a choice not to give up hope. It is hope that helps you to keep moving and to keep taking a step even if the progress looks almost negligible or slow. Even if you fall or fail in the course of trying out something, it is still hope that will make you to rise up and try again. Imagine how many times Thomas Edison tried and failed, yet he did not stop trying because he had the hope that it will work someday. If you see someone still putting in extensive efforts towards getting something done without a recourse to what is happening around them, then know that something strong is powering them - hope. There is no force of discouragement that is strong enough to withstand the power of hope. ![blur-1867402_640.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUtKYtGmJi6en5jmBnycddgt2du6SxoVTjTHXFahxGqxx/blur-1867402_640.jpg) _{Image from [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/photos/blur-close-up-girl-woman-hands-1867402)} One of the very adorable things about hope is that it is very contagious. If you stay around the hopeful; people who always profess hope and positivities, it will also trigger your hope. In the same way, when you remain hopeful around others who are passing through tough times, it will inspire them to be hopeful. In fact, you will become an example to them that it is possible to face the challenges and tough times of life and neither be defeated nor drowned by them. Your can actually because a source of strength, not just for your own self alone, but it can extend to the people around you. It is also worthy to note that, there are times where it could be people that will become the hope on which you can hold on to. This is why being surrounded by the right people is a level of hope on its own. There are also sometimes where your hope can be sustained by your ability, by your past victories, and by your dream of the future. When you hold on to hope, you will not allow negativity to put you down. After all, no matter how long the night has lasted, it will not be strong enough to stop the day from dawning. When you have hope that the future will hold something better for you, you will look forward to it with enthusiasm and expectations. ***Thanks for reading***

Peace on y'all

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