For the past month, Nick Cave has captivated my attention and inspired me with his music and words. With a career spanning decades, Cave is not only a musician but also a writer, screenwriter, and poet.
His band, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, is known for songs like “Red Right Hand,” which serves as the theme song for the show Peaky Blinders. Recently, Cave’s profound response to a fan’s question about hopefulness struck a chord with me.
Cave shared how a devastating loss in his own life taught him the preciousness of life and the essential goodness of people. He emphasized that hopefulness is a hard-earned warrior emotion that can combat cynicism.
This powerful message resonated deeply with me, reminding me of the importance of acceptance and hope in navigating life’s challenges. Cultivating hopefulness isn’t just about passive optimism but actively working towards enduring whatever comes our way.
As Dr. Lakshmin suggests, hope should be a practiced action, not just a feeling. It’s about recognizing our agency to make things better, even in difficult circumstances.
Hopefulness is a mindset that empowers us to face adversities and find the strength to endure. Every small act of kindness or progress, as Nick Cave beautifully expresses, keeps the darkness at bay and affirms the value of the world and its inhabitants.
So, remember that you have agency in your journey, and even the smallest steps forward are significant. Let hopefulness be your warrior emotion, guiding you through life’s challenges with resilience and belief in a brighter future.
-Steve
