Lately, I’ve been tapping into a saying my dad drilled through my thick skull. “Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst.” I feel like a broken record this holiday season. This statement flew out of my mouth at least a couple dozen times in the aforementioned time frame.
My dad and whoever coined the phrase had a valid point though. Going into any situation we have to keep it real with ourselves. This includes acknowledging where things could go wrong. I’m not saying you need to account for every little thing, but just having realistic expectations. With those in mind, we can then mentally rehearse the scenarios or talk through them with someone.
On the other hand, this doesn’t mean to be a total pessimist either. We certainly hope that there is a positive outcome, and the situation could definitely go well without any hiccups. Without hope, I find it hard to believe that we would feel motivated. We just can’t jump too far ahead of ourselves and think everything will be honky dory either.
I personally like the quote because it keeps me right where I need to be in the gray area. I’m not leaning too heavy onto depressive realism nor falling victim to rose-colored glasses. Keep it real, but through a hopeful lens. I like it.
The Caring Counselor
The Caring Counselor 
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