The Power of Hopeful Thinking: More Than Just Optimism
Why hope might be the most important tool in a female founder's toolkit.
Hello, Denyse here, and a very warm welcome to We Are Mimosa, a space for female founders building brands which are aligned with their purpose and values, and who care about making the world a better place.
"Something wonderfully magical is in the air, isn't it?" Michelle Obama's words at the Democratic National Convention resonated deeply with me. "A familiar feeling that's been buried too deep for too long... You know what I'm talking about? It's the contagious power of hope!"
Her declaration that "hope is making a comeback" struck a particularly powerful chord. Like Obama, I was processing the recent loss of my mother - a woman who, despite living in a cynical world, embodied "that striving sense of hope" every day of her life.
Beyond Wishful Thinking
As female founders, we're often told to "stay positive" or "keep our hopes up." But hope, I've discovered, is something far more powerful than mere optimism. It's a strategic mindset that can transform how we approach our business challenges and life obstacles.
This insight came to me while working in my allotment, a space that has become my thinking ground since my mother's passing. As Audrey Hepburn once said, "To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow." Every seed planted is an act of hope - not blind optimism, but calculated action toward a desired future.
Hope Theory: A Framework for Success
Through my research and work with female founders, I've discovered Hope Theory, a groundbreaking framework developed by positive psychology pioneer Professor Rick Snyder. This theory transforms hope from a fuzzy feeling into a practical tool for achievement.
Hope, according to Snyder, has three distinct components:
Goals: Clear, concrete objectives we want to achieve
Pathways: Multiple routes to reach those goals
Agency: The belief in our ability to take action and persist
This framework explains why some entrepreneurs thrive despite obstacles while others struggle to move forward. It's not about being eternally optimistic - it's about having both the will and the way to achieve our goals.
Hope vs. Optimism: Understanding the Difference
For years, I confused hope with optimism, and perhaps you have too. Here's the crucial difference:
Optimism is expecting positive outcomes regardless of our input - like Pollyanna believing everything will work out somehow
Hope is believing we can create better outcomes through our actions - like a founder knowing she can pivot her strategy if the first approach doesn't work
This distinction is particularly relevant for female founders who often face systemic barriers. Hope empowers us to acknowledge challenges while maintaining our belief in our ability to overcome them.
The Personal Journey to Hope
If you've grown up in an environment where hope wasn't nurtured, as I did, developing hopeful thinking can feel like learning a new language. My family's unofficial motto might as well have been "don't get your hopes up" - a protective mechanism that ultimately limits what we believe is possible.
While I was skilled at setting goals and finding different pathways to achieve them, the agency component - believing in my power to effect change - took years to develop. This is something I see repeatedly in my work with female founders: brilliant women who have the capability but struggle with believing in their power to succeed.
Hope as a Business Strategy
For women entrepreneurs, cultivating hope isn't just about feeling better - it's about building resilience and maintaining momentum when faced with challenges. Here's why hope matters in business:
It helps us maintain focus on long-term goals while managing short-term setbacks
It encourages creative problem-solving by helping us see multiple pathways forward
It builds resilience by reinforcing our belief in our ability to overcome obstacles
It supports strategic thinking by combining optimism with practical action planning
Cultivating Hope in Your Entrepreneurial Journey
The best part about hope theory is that hope can be learned and strengthened. Here are some ways to build your hope muscles:
Set Clear Goals: Break down big visions into concrete, achievable objectives
Map Multiple Pathways: Always have Plans B and C ready
Build Agency: Document your successes and learn from setbacks
Practice Strategic Optimism: Combine positive thinking with practical planning
Create Hope-Supporting Environments: Surround yourself with people who believe in possibilities
Moving Forward with Hope
As we navigate the challenges of building purpose-driven businesses in a world that often underestimates women's capabilities, hope becomes our strategic advantage. It's not about denying reality but about maintaining our belief in our ability to create positive change while developing practical pathways to achieve it.
Next week, we'll explore specific strategies for applying hope theory to common challenges female founders face. But for now, I'd love to hear from you: How does hope show up in your entrepreneurial journey? What helps you maintain hope when facing obstacles?
Share your experiences in the comments below. And if this resonated with you, please take a moment to "❤️" and share this post.
Until next time,
Denyse
About Hope Theory and Positive Psychology: Hope Theory was developed by Professor Rick Snyder, who published six books and 262 articles about hope's impact on health, work, education, and personal meaning. It's part of positive psychology, the scientific study of what makes life worth living, focusing on developing strengths rather than just healing weaknesses.
About me
If you’re new to my work, it might be helpful if I explain who I am and what I do!
I’m Denyse Whillier, a recovering CEO who previously built a seven-figure business, and left to become a ripple of change. Today I help women leaders who are on their own journey of becoming to a life that’s aligned with their purpose and values, with an ambition to build thriving, purpose-led brands they’re passionate about.
To find out more about my services and how I can help you realise your aspirations, check out this link. If you’d like to know more about the results my clients get, here are some of my case studies.
One-off advice | 3-hour intensive | Ongoing monthly business coaching | Done-for-you business audit
Thank you so much! I look forward to keeping in touch especially at this politically challenging sensitive time!