The raging coronavirus pandemic, along with political turbulence and uncertainty, have overwhelmed many of us. From almost the start of 2020, people were faced with bleak prospects as illness, death, isolation, and job losses became unwelcome parts of our reality. Indeed, all through these times, both the dark and bright sides of human nature were evident as many people engaged in extraordinary compassion and courage when others were committing acts of violence, self-interest, or greed. As a research scientist whose work focuses on positive psychology among people facing challenges, I am deeply aware that if ever there were a time for a conversation about hope, it is now. Hope Versus Optimism First, let’s understand what hope is. Many people confuse optimism with hope. Charles R. Snyder, author of “The Psychology of Hope,” defined hope as the tendency to see desired goals as possible, and to approach those goals with “agency thinking,” a belief that you or others …