by Erlene Grise-Owens, EdD, LCSW, MSW, MRE, lead co-editor of The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers and Other Helping Professionals
Artwork by Brenda Molloy, Art That Resonates. Used with permission.
Hope is resurging in the U.S. and global social-political culture. At the 2024 Democratic convention, Michelle Obama declared, “Hope is making a comeback.” President Barack Obama famously said, “…Hope is the belief that destiny will not be written for us, but by us….”
This new hope chapter being written prompts me to reflect on hope as a powerful self-care strategy. I hope this reflection—with accompanying resources—nurtures, informs, and empowers your self-care.
“Hope is the thing with feathers…”—Emily Dickinson
“No, Grandma! Don’t give up hope! Never give up hope!” Noor (age 8) warbled from the backseat, as my partner, our Grands, and I made our way toward our beloved local library. I’d recently won the “Reading Under a Tree” contest, sponsored by the library and an environmental organization. (My version of an Olympic medal, Y’all!) However, my prize had been missing for weeks. Noor chirped her encouragement, after I’d said, “Well, I guess I’ll check again (third try) about my prize. I’m beginning to lose hope, though.” (Happy Ending: An intrepid librarian took on this mystery and secured my prize. Hope-in-action!) Noor and my Grandson, Z (age 10), represent my “thing with feathers.”
Another source of my hope is seeing the career trajectories and contributions of former students. For instance, former student, Dr. Angela Bauer Pharris, and colleagues, including Dr. Chan Hellman, are doing important and inspiring work on hope in social work. (Start here to check it out!) In a recent chat, Angela summarized, “Self-care can’t only focus on reducing adversity; it must incorporate intentional, consistent attention to expectations of our future. Hope isn’t wishful thinking; it’s an action strategy and one of the best predictors of well-being. Hope is self-care!”
Who and what in your life “feathers” hope? How can you nurture those relationships and aspects?
“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.”—Nelson Mandela
Because it’s a lifestyle, much of self-care is embedded in choices. These choices don’t deny real fears, losses, and pain. In Almost Everything—Notes on Hope, Anne Lamott references Martin Luther King, Jr.: “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” LaMott beautifully (and hilariously, at times) writes about how to choose hope. She profoundly acknowledges the harsh disappointments that can erode hope.
Yet, Lamott writes, “Hope springs from that which is right in front of us, which surprises us, and seems to work” (p.181). She concludes, “We have all we need to come through [all the disappointment]…We offer and are offered…breath and spaciousness, which create hope, sufficient unto the day” (p. 189). Self-care is whatever keeps you breathing more fully and freely. Hope is a powerful choice that expands our breath.
What does it look like for your self-care breath to choose hope—today?
Hope Is a Discipline—Mariame Kaba
St. Augustine said, “Hope has two beautiful daughters: Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain the same.” Anger and joy are complementary aspects of self-care. Both fuel the courage to act in ways that cultivate hope. Ultimately, as Mariame Kaba crystallized, “Hope is a discipline. We must practice it daily” (p. 197). In an inspiring example of intergenerational, synergistic wisdom, Kerry Washington interviewed Jane Fonda, who said, “Hope is a muscle” and then quoted Greta Thunburg as saying, “Act…and hope will come.”
The synergy of the Harris-Walz political campaign is fueled by anger and joy that chooses hope over fear. With similar racial-ethnic heritage, my granddaughter—aka Backseat Bird of Hope 😊—looks a lot like our New Hope for President, Kamala Harris. So, please, know what hope looks like: It’s the tenacious tweet of encouragement from our backseat; the courageous choice in front of us; the disciplined, diverse actions we take today.
In her pivotal essay, “10 Essentials Social Workers Must Know About Hope,” Elizabeth J. Clark underscored that maintaining hope is “best practice.” Professionally and personally, we must attend to our individual self-care of hope. We must practice that hope in our professional and collective actions.
As Holly Near conveys in her anthem “I Am Willing,” hope requires being willing to show up! Let’s Show Up for Hope!
Peace, Love, and Self-Care,
Erlene
Erlene Grise-Owens, EdD, LCSW, MSW, MRE, is a Partner in The Wellness Group, ETC. This LLC provides evaluation, training, and consultation for organizational wellness and practitioner well-being. Dr. Grise-Owens is lead editor of The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers and Other Helping Professionals. As a former faculty member and graduate program director, she and a small (but mighty!) group of colleagues implemented an initiative to promote self-care as part of the social work education curriculum. Previously, she served in clinical and administrative roles. She has experience with navigating toxicity and dysfunction, up-close and personal! Likewise, as an educator, she saw students enter the field and quickly burn out. As a dedicated social worker, she believes the well-being of practitioners is a matter of social justice and human rights. Thus, she is on a mission to promote self-care and wellness!