Exception to the Rule: The Surprising Science of Character-Based Culture, Engagement, and Performance

CHAPTER 7

Hope

Be better, not bitter.

We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.

—MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.¹

The virtue of having hope goes beyond the conventional dictionary definition of hope: “a feeling of expectation and desire.”² Like temperance, hope is a matter of controlling our response to circumstances beyond our control, like adversity. Having the virtue of hope is about framing an adverse experience into one that offers growth, becoming “better not bitter.” The stories that follow will exemplify this strength. By way of quick overview, we can become better rather than bitter by moving from a victim status to a strong survivor status.

Here’s how in five steps, which are—like all the virtues—somewhat easier to ...