Hope Is a Dangerous Thing: Why Action Matters
Hope is powerful. It keeps us going when life feels tough. But hope by itself won’t change your situation. If you want to move forward, you need to take action—no matter how small.
My wife and I learned this during our adoption journey. The process took about a year, and there were so many things we couldn’t control. We could have just “hoped for the best”, but instead, we focused on what we could do. Every day, we tackled small tasks—filling out forms, meeting deadlines and staying organised. It wasn’t easy, but breaking things into small steps gave us back control in a situation that felt overwhelming.
This idea reminds me of James Clear’s book Atomic Habits. Clear talks about the power of improving by just 1% every day. One percent might not seem like much, but over time, those small actions add up. That’s how real progress is made, not by hoping, but by doing.
James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, wrote the book to share practical strategies for building better habits, inspired by his personal recovery journey after a traumatic sports injury that taught him the power of small, consistent changes.
In The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Morgan Freeman’s character, Red, says, "Hope is a dangerous thing," reflecting his belief that clinging to hope in prison can lead to despair if dreams remain unattainable; the line highlights his initial skepticism about hope as a survival mechanism in harsh realities.
When Hope Is Life-Saving
That said, hope can also be a lifeline. Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and author of Man’s Search for Meaning, talked about how hope helped people survive the unimaginable. In the concentration camps, those who held onto hope, believing they might see loved ones again or rebuild their lives, found the strength to keep going.
But even for Frankl, hope wasn’t passive. It worked because it gave people something to live for, a purpose. They didn’t just wait for change; they found ways to hold on and survive.
Victor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist, is famous for his book Man's Search for Meaning, where he shares his experiences in Nazi concentration camps and emphasizes the importance of finding purpose in life as a way to endure suffering and build resilience.
Turning Hope into Action
Here’s the key: hope is a great starting point, but it only works if you back it up with action.
Focus on What You Can Control: When things feel overwhelming, ask yourself, “What’s one small step I can take today?”
Build Momentum: Little wins add up. Tackle one task at a time, and over days or weeks, you’ll see progress.
Let Hope Guide You, Not Stop You: Hope can inspire you, but don’t let it replace action. Pair it with effort to create real change.
My Challenge to You
Think of something you’re hoping for right now. Then ask yourself: What’s one small thing I can do today to move closer to that goal?
Hope is the start—but action is what will get you where you want to go.
Stay Resilient,
Ro