Hope is a feeling that good will happen even when it seems impossible. Hope saves you from the finality of negativity because it generates energy and enthusiasm. Hope means that you never completely accept defeat, externally or internally. Hope is faith that goodness will find way and somehow prevail, even if you can't see how. We have the ability to lend hope and transfer it to others. We can model it, spread it, and teach it. Community is key to the resurrection of hope. At River Oak I see hope in our guides and in our learners. It's their energy and enthusiasm that gives me hope. Especially, during crazy COVID times when it's so easy to lose hope. Negativity can easily take over our thoughts and our actions. The antidote to negative thinking is hope.
From our Head of School
Recently, our learners tackled their very own negative self talk. We all have an inner critic. At times this little voice can be helpful and keep us motivated toward goals—like when it reminds us that what we're about to eat isn't healthy or what we're about to do may not be wise. However, this voice can be more harmful than helpful, particularly when it gets into the realm of excessive negativity, negative self-talk, and it can really bring us down. Those who find themselves frequently engaging in negative self-talk tend to be more stressed or sad. Whether the constant self-criticism makes one seem needy and insecure, turns negative self-talk into more general negative habits that may ultimately cost friendships.
We ended with writing our own negative self talk on a piece of paper, crumpled, and burned them in our front yard. It surely felt good to see all our negativity burst into flames and into oblivion. I heard one learner say it’s still in their head and I shared that it was in mine too but we know it has no power over us.
Spreading Hope
Our River Oak Community as well as our Acton Community help spread hope not just amongst learners and guides but even further. Our learners have been focused on preparing for the Children's Business Fair. While there is a pandemic and some things are still hard, our learners and guides are preparing to embrace the community around us and invite people to our school to share what our young entrepreneurs have been working on. Our learners are harnessing hope inside themselves as they tackle the challenge of creating their own business. They are constantly stepping outside their comfort zones, overcoming challenges, and lifting each other up. Our heroes will transfer that hope to others by sharing their positive energy and enthusiasm with all those who attend the Children's Business Fair, making it more than just an outdoor marketplace.
