Choosing Hope on Hard Days

The book, ‘The Power of Positive Thinking’ is one that has stuck with me for almost five decades because my dad bought it for me when I was in primary school.

There is a common misconception that staying positive means we must always be happy, smiling, and full of joy. We often hear phrases like “think positive,” and they sometimes come across as pressure to pretend that life isn’t hard or painful.

However, true positivity isn’t about dismissing challenges or plastering on a fake smile when things are falling apart. As the quote says, “Staying positive doesn’t mean you have to be happy all the time.

It means that even on hard days you know there are better days to come.” This distinction is key because it highlights the deeper truth about positive thinking: it’s not about ‘being happy’; it’s about ‘choosing hope’.

One of the biggest misconceptions about positive thinking is that it requires constant happiness or an unrealistic denial of life’s struggles. We often believe that if we are truly positive people, then we should never feel sadness, frustration, or doubt. But that’s not how life works.

The reality is, life will throw curveballs—moments of grief, disappointment, setbacks, and even failures. Being positive doesn’t mean these moments won’t hurt. Instead, it means choosing not to let these difficult moments define your outlook.

As Helen Keller once said, “Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” Positivity is about recognising both parts of that equation. It’s about being grounded in the reality of life’s difficulties but also holding onto the hope that better days are ahead. This is what makes positivity powerful—it isn’t about pretending or avoiding; it’s about resilience and trust in brighter tomorrows.

Choosing to think positively is just that—a choice. It’s an intentional decision to view life’s challenges as temporary rather than permanent. It means acknowledging pain while holding onto the belief that it will pass. As the Bible references, weeping may endure through the night but in the morning comes joy. Another popular saying is, ‘there is light at the end of the tunnel.’

What these point to is the reminder for us to hang in there; sometimes all we’ve got to do is stand in faith and hope because we have done everything else possible.

Positive thinking allows us to navigate life’s storms with the understanding that the sun will eventually shine again. In this way, positivity becomes an anchor—a steady, unshakable trust that no matter how dark the current moment is, light is always on the horizon.

Consider the quote by Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor who faced unimaginable hardship: “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” Frankl knew firsthand that positivity is a mindset. It’s not something that happens ‘to’ us, but something we choose in how we respond to life. His words remind us that, even in the darkest situations, our power lies in how we think, how we choose to see the world, and how we rise again, day after day.

So how do we stay positive, especially on those hard days when everything feels heavy? The key lies in perspective. One bad day, week, or season does not mean a bad life. In fact, it’s often through our hardest days that we grow the most. There is always an opportunity to learn, to grow, and to rise stronger.

James Allen said, “You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.” This means that our future is shaped by our present mindset. If we allow negative thinking to dominate, we risk staying stuck in a cycle of defeat. But if we choose to maintain hope and seek out the positive—even in tough circumstances—we position ourselves for better days ahead. Positive thinking is the fuel that propels us forward.

So how can one cultivate positivity?

It starts with examining your thought patterns. Are you allowing negativity to cloud your perspective? Are you holding onto frustrations, doubts, or fears that are keeping you from seeing the possibilities for better days?

Remember, you don’t have to feel happy every moment to maintain a positive outlook. Positivity is more about belief in the future than about present emotions. Start by cultivating small habits that shift your mindset toward positivity. Practice gratitude, even in the smallest things. Surround yourself with people who encourage and uplift you. Choose affirmations that remind you of the hope in tomorrow.

“Keep your face always toward the sunshine—and shadows will fall behind you,” said Walt Whitman. This is the essence of staying positive. Even on the hard days, we can choose to keep our faces toward the Light, knowing that better days are coming.

Make that choice today and every day, not for the sake of temporary happiness, but for a life filled with enduring hope and possibility.