And then last week I wrote about this might be summed up with the challenging concept of surrender.

So…how is it playing out for me?

Well, I haven’t been doing it perfectly (which is kinda the point maybe?). But I’ve tried writing some song lyrics (that certainly aren’t perfect) to get some thoughts down on paper. I don’t know if anything will happen with these words…but I like to wonder about it!

I’m breaking up with the me I was
Tired of living for everyone else but myself
I’m catching a vision for how good things can be
If I just let go of thinking I’m in control
I’m seeing the beauty in the right here
Life can be so hard, I’m falling into hope
The good that is and that can be
Finding my part in being fully me
I was born for more than the fear and shame I settled for
I’m catching a vision for a new way to live
A new way to be

Songwriting can be really, really hard. Sometimes a song just drops out of the sky and almost writes itself. I feel like that happened with my songs “Precious Memories,” “Pilgrim Man,” and “You’ll Get Through This.” That’s an amazing feeling.

Other times it’s like trying to chisel away
at a slab of marble using a feather.

Just drove by the house
I grew up in
Looking in the windows
To see myself
And say a little hello

That’s one thing I really enjoy about living here in Minneapolis…I can actually drive by the house I grew up in…from a time decades ago…and imagine what I might say to my younger self.

What is up with this sadness
This block between me and the joy?

This is probably the biggest question for me right now, and the one I need to most surrender trying to figure out—because there’s no answer.

Life is really difficult for many people, a truly head-spinning time to be alive. So many things feel upside-down. Yes, it’s hard, but I’m glad it feels that way. Because if this was considered normal, then I think we’d have even greater problems.

Ahhh…a song idea: “It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way”

I sit with various scraps of paper with words on them. Multiple notes on my phone. I carry ideas with me at all times. Unsure which will gestate into something, I keep listening for the muse, wanting to listen to what is valuable to me, and try to seize those moments when I’m brave enough to dive in and nurture the raw pieces.

Surrendering doesn’t mean not nurturing, it doesn’t mean not watering the seeds. It means letting go of what it’s supposed to turn into, or what I should receive in return for creating it.

Start at the Beginning! Catch up here on Week 1!

This Week’s Big Idea

This final week is about stepping into your life with renewed clarity, courage, and intention. It’s where hope moves from something internal…to something embodied, expressed, and shared.

Included in today’s jam-packed newsletter:

• Video: “Living Hope Out Loud”
• Guided Audio Meditation: “…

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Start at the Beginning! Catch up here on Week 1!

This Week’s Big Idea

This week is all about restoring faith in ourselves, in life, and in the possibility of good after disappointment. When hope has been broken—by loss, betrayal, burnout, or a long season of waiting—how do we learn to trust again?

Included in today’s newsletter:

• Video: “Rebuilding Trust W…

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Start at the Beginning! Catch up here on Week 1!

This Week’s Big Idea

Hope isn’t just a feeling—it’s a force. Let’s explore how real hope leads to action. This week is about the connection between believing and doing. It’s for people who are ready to move from thinking about change… to living it.

Included in today’s newsletter:

• Video: “Turning Belief Into…

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Start at the Beginning! Catch up here on Week 1! or Week 2 here!

This Week’s Big Idea

Identify the difference between the voice of fear and the voice of hope, and start cultivating an inner narrative that’s more compassionate, courageous, and future-facing.

Included in today’s newsletter:

• Video: “The Voice of Inner Hope”
• Guided Audio Meditation
• Essay fo…

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Did you miss Week 1? Catch up here!

This Week’s Big Idea

Hope grows by telling the truth.
The stories we tell ourselves shape what we believe is possible.

Included in today’s newsletter:

• Video: “The Stories We Tell Ourselves”
• Guided Audio Meditation
• Essay for reflection: “The Power of A New Story”
• Journal Prompts and Worksheet
• Theme Song

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This Week’s Big Idea

Hope is not about ignoring reality.
It’s about choosing which version of the future you’re going to live toward.

Included in today’s newsletter:

• Video: “You Don’t Have to Feel Hopeful to Have Hope”
• Essay for reflection: “Why Hope Still Matters”
• Journal Prompts and Worksheet
• Guided Audio Meditation
• Theme Song

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To download a printable version of this, click here:

Hope Project Manifesto

1MB ∙ PDF file

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We believe that hope is not a weakness.

It is not naïve. It is not passive.
Hope is brave.
Hope sees the world as it is—
and still dares to imagine what it could become.
It does not deny the darkness.
It chooses to light a candle anyway.

We believe that hope begins with honesty—

With naming the pain.
With telli…

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Download a free copy of this for yourself right here!

5 Habits Of Hopeful People

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Hopeful People…

1. Let Themselves Dream Again

Hopeful people allow their imagination to explore what's possible—not just what's probable. They give themselves permission to want something more, even before they know how to get there.

“What if it works?”…

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As you dive into THE HOPE PROJECT, I want to offer a pretty vulnerable confession of why hope is so important to me and our society. THE HOPE PROJECT is six weeks of (non-spiritual) focused discussion, journaling, and meditations on hope—even with a theme song! I firmly believe being people of hope can literally revolutionize our lives and our society. …

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Click to download a printable .pdf version!

The Hope Test

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Disclaimer: The scores on the following self-assessment do not reflect any particular diagnosis or course of treatment. They are meant as a tool to help assess your level of hope. If you have concerns about your current wellbeing or health, you are encouraged to share your results with a physician or healthcare…

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