Hope and an Abundance Mindset: 'Tis the Season

As the calendar year winds down, it’s natural to look toward the next one with anticipation. We dream of a more successful career, more meaningful relationships, and a deeper sense of connection. Yet, the key to starting 2025 on the right foot lies in something deceptively simple—hope.

True hope isn’t blind optimism or wishful thinking. It’s rooted in an abundance mindset, one that anticipates good even in the face of challenges. Hope thrives when we reflect, reframe, and treasure the beautiful, seemingly mundane moments of our lives. It is truly recognizing what we do well, and doing it consistently that will bring us success, meaning and that deep sense of fulfillment. Yes, this seems simple, but it is in no way easy. Daily hopeful, positive habits are, like all habits, elusive and often difficult to cultivate. Consistency is oh so hard to maintain. Enter gratitude. 

Gratitude and Hope: A Dynamic Duo

Gratitude is what keeps hope alive. It reminds us that while our circumstances may look a certain way now, they don’t stay that way. When we reflect on the distance between where we’ve been and where we are now, there is space for gratitude to shine, along with a hope for what’s still possible. Gratitude grounds us in what matters- those small, mundane moments of everyday life. With practice, those are the moments we can collect to push us closer to success- they help us build the positive daily habits we need to win.

Gratitude also reminds us of our agency—the power we have to act and create change in our lives. While gratitude often starts with appreciation and thanks for what others have done for us, it’s our ability to receive and hold those gifts that lets them make a difference.

When we practice gratitude, it expands the ways that we respond. Instead of falling into a scarcity mindset—reacting to our circumstances with fear, resentment, or defensiveness—we move toward abundance. We reframe. Gratitude makes us more resourceful, creative, generous, and optimistic, helping us to see what we might be missing, and empowering us to keep showing up and moving forward when life feels hard.

Reflecting with Gratitude- Start Now

How to start. To cultivate hope for the new year, review this year by focusing on what has truly made you grateful. Take stock of your accomplishments, big and small, and bask in the moments that brought joy and connection. Then, look at the challenges. Reflection would be meaningless without an examination of all of you, and looking for the lessons in challenge is indeed a skill that takes practice and mindful, intentional reflection. Instead of dismissing the less than perfect moments as failures, ask yourself: What did I learn? How did this shape me? Where is the lesson?

For example, maybe a tough financial decision taught you how to manage resources more effectively or showed you that you have talents and interests in areas that you may have never imagined.

Let me share a story.

Our daughter and son in law built a house. Literally. Their general contractor walked off of the job when the framing was barely finished. There was a lot of reflection. Big emotions. Feelings of failure and helplessness. They persisted. They chose to hold on to their dream and they dug deep, learned so so so many new skills, and accomplished what many could not have. They had help of course, but they took on the project and went ahead full steam. In the end, they had much to be grateful for; opportunity, resources, resourcefulness, determination… This continues to be a project in progress, but the mishap could have been the end of their dream and that, they didn’t allow. Choosing to focus on gratitude for what they knew they had and being hopeful about what they could do, nudged them be more creative, more optimistic, more determined.

Gratitude helped them reframe difficulties as growth opportunities, fueling hope for what could be.

A Hopeful Start

Hope also grows in the quiet, ordinary moments of life. The peacefulness of a morning coffee, the warmth of a kind word, or the satisfaction of completing a lingering task—all of these add to our “treasure trove” of hope. By appreciating and collecting all of these moments- the ones that rock our worlds, those that blindside us and those that simply sneak quietly in to remind us of all that we have- we train ourselves to notice and savor the good, even in difficult times.

Try This: A Hope Map

Consider preparing for the new year by practicing reflection and hope in this way- create a Hope Map.

1. Start with a Blank Canvas: Maybe a poster or cork board, large sheet of paper, or even a digital tool.

2. Make Two Sections: 2024 Reflections and 2025 Hopes.

3. Fill in Reflections:

   • Write down key moments from the year, both joyful and challenging.

   • Add symbols, images, or objects that represent what you’re grateful for and lessons you’ve learned. For example, a small star might represent a goal you achieved, while a ripple could symbolize growth from a difficult experience.

4. Create the 2025 Section:

   • Write hopes, goals, and intentions for the new year.

   • Include inspirational words or quotes, images, or symbols that represent what you want to cultivate in your life. Make this a representation of your most authentic YOU.

5. Place your Hope Map somewhere visible as a daily reminder of the good in your life and the possibilities ahead.

   
   

I’ve included a tool to help you get started! Follow the prompts to guide your thoughts and map your journey.

A Hope Map helps you see your vision for the coming year at a glance, combining gratitude for where you’ve been with hope for where you’re going. It’s a beautiful, intentional way to embrace an abundance mindset as you step into 2025.

Remember: Gratitude Fuels Hope and Action

Gratitude and hope work hand in hand. By committing to the practice of reflection and gratitude tracking (see my previous blog post for help with this), you are intentionally developing an abundance mindset. You are cultivating optimism, recognizing that you have the power to act and change your circumstances while learning how to respond with creativity and generosity.

As this year comes to an end, be grateful and set the stage for a hopeful, abundant start to 2025—one where you find more success, more connection, and more joy.

What small everyday moment of gratitude can you notice today that will help build your hope for tomorrow?

With Empathy, Grace and Gratitude,

Tammy

PS. Exciting announcement and addition to The Collective coming soon. Keep checking in.