Hope

Can we live without it?

No.

It's the lack of hope and the belief that "there's no way out" that drives people to end their lives.

Hope:

the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best

Hope has somehow transformed into somewhat of a weak word. It conveys more of a vague desire, rather than expectation, which I believe was the original meaning.

I don't know what brought about the change.

But I do know that quotes like these float around:

Expect nothing and appreciate everything.

Never expect things to happen, it's better to feel surprised than disappointed.

If you expect nothing from anybody, you're never disappointed. ~ Sylvia Plath

Weak.

These quotes are more my cup of chai:

You might not always get what you want, but you always get what you expect. ~ Charles Spurgeon

You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them. ~ Michael Jordan

You were born to win, but to be a winner you must plan to win, prepare to win and expect to win. ~ Zig Ziglar

It's not that I don't get it. People can disappoint us and things can not turn out as we 'hoped'.

But it comes down to what you are placing your hope in.

Place your hope in something firm, and start raising your expectations.

Have more confidence in yourself, in others, and in God.

With God, you can have hope in the expectation sense of the word.

It's called faith.

Try it.

To expect the unexpected shows a thoroughly modern intellect. ~ Oscar Wilde.

Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. ~ 1 Timothy 6.17

Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the Lord ~ Psalm 31.24

Here's a great song.