Hope is more than a feeling it is Meaning Factcheck Usage
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You know, when Goleman says “Hope is more than a feeling; it is a way of thinking,” he’s hitting on something profound. It’s not just passive optimism; it’s an active, strategic mindset. This reframes hope as a practical tool, not just a fleeting emotion.

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Meaning

At its core, this quote tells us that hope isn’t wishful thinking. It’s a cognitive process, a mental strategy for achieving what you want.

Explanation

Let me break this down for you. For years, we’ve been sold this idea that hope is just this warm, fuzzy feeling you get. But that’s a fragile kind of hope. What Goleman is talking about is something much more robust. It’s a way of thinking that does two things: it focuses relentlessly on a goal, and just as importantly, it actively maps out the pathways to get there. It’s the difference between “I hope I get a promotion” and “My goal is a promotion, and here are the three key projects I’ll lead and the skills I’ll develop this quarter to make it happen.” One is a wish. The other is a plan fueled by hope. It’s a subtle but massive shift.

Quote Summary

ContextAttributes
Original LanguageEnglish (3668)
CategorySuccess (341)
Topicsgoals (48), hope (29), resilience (106)
Literary Styleclear (348), motivational (245)
Emotion / Moodlively (108), optimistic (116)
Overall Quote Score81 (258)
Reading Level71
Aesthetic Score82

Origin & Factcheck

This insight comes directly from Daniel Goleman’s groundbreaking 1995 book, Emotional Intelligence, published in the United States. You sometimes see this idea floating around unattributed, but it’s pure Goleman, rooted in his work on how our emotional and cognitive brains interact.

Attribution Summary

ContextAttributes
AuthorDr Daniel Goleman (50)
Source TypeBook (4032)
Source/Book NameEmotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ (54)
Origin TimeperiodContemporary (1615)
Original LanguageEnglish (3668)
AuthenticityVerified (4032)

Author Bio

Daniel Goleman is a psychologist and bestselling author whose journalism at The New York Times brought brain and behavior science to a wide audience. He earned a BA from Amherst and a PhD in psychology from Harvard, and studied in India on a Harvard fellowship. Goleman’s research and writing helped mainstream emotional intelligence, leadership competencies, attention, and contemplative science. He co-founded CASEL and a leading research consortium on EI at work. The Daniel Goleman book list includes Emotional Intelligence, Working with Emotional Intelligence, Primal Leadership, Social Intelligence, Focus, and Altered Traits.
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Where is this quotation located?

QuotationHope is more than a feeling; it is a way of thinking that focuses on goals and the means to achieve them
Book DetailsPublication Year: 1995; ISBN: 978-0553375060; Last edition: 2005; Number of pages: 352
Where is it?Chapter: Managing Anxiety, Approximate page 210 from 2005 edition

Authority Score90

Context

In the book, this isn’t just a random thought. It’s part of a larger discussion on optimism as a key component of emotional intelligence. Goleman was arguing against the notion that optimism is naive. He positioned this kind of hopeful, goal-oriented thinking as a major driver of success and resilience, something that sets high achievers apart.

Usage Examples

So how do you actually use this? Let me give you a couple of ways I’ve seen it work.

  • For a Team Leader: Instead of saying “I hope we hit our Q4 targets,” you frame it as “Our goal is X, and here’s the hopeful pathway: we’ll achieve it by focusing on A, B, and C initiatives.” You’re building a hopeful, actionable plan.
  • For Someone in a Career Rut: This is gold. You help them shift from “I hope I find a better job” to “My goal is a role in Y field. The way I’ll get there is by networking with 2 people per week and completing this certification by Z date.” You’re replacing anxiety with agency.
  • Personal Goal Setting: Applying it to something like fitness. “I hope I get in shape” becomes “My goal is to run a 5k. The path is following this training plan three days a week.” Hope becomes the engine for the plan.

To whom it appeals?

ContextAttributes
ThemeWisdom (1754)
Audiencescoaches (1277), leaders (2619), students (3111), therapists (555)
Usage Context/Scenariocareer coaching (104), goal-setting classes (2), motivation talks (17), resilience workshops (14)

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Motivation Score80
Popularity Score85
Shareability Score82

FAQ

Question: So is this saying positive feelings don’t matter?

Answer: Not at all. The feeling is the fuel, but the thinking is the engine. You need both. The feeling motivates you to start, but the strategic thinking is what actually gets you to the destination.

Question: How is this different from just setting a goal?

Answer: Great question. Goal-setting is a part of it, but this “hopeful” way of thinking includes the belief that the pathways you devise will actually work. It’s goal-setting plus a deep-seated belief in your own ability to navigate and overcome obstacles. It’s the mindset behind the plan.

Question: Can you learn this way of thinking?

Answer: Absolutely. That’s the best part. It’s a muscle. You practice by breaking down big, daunting goals into smaller, manageable steps. Each small win reinforces the hopeful mindset, making it stronger. It’s a learnable skill of emotional intelligence.

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