ተስፋ (Tesfa)
Tesfa (ተስፋ) in Tigrigna, one of official languages of Eritrea, means HOPE.
The definition of hope can differ depending on the person doing the talking. When people speak about hope in a spiritual context, it might mean believing good things will happen with faith in a higher power. They might direct their hopes outward in prayer. Whether we think about it or not, hope is a part of everyone’s life. Everyone hopes for something. It’s an inherent part of being a human being. Hope helps us define what we want in our futures and is part of the self-narrative about our lives we all have running inside our minds. Hope is “feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.” But hope is not just optimism or wishful thinking. “It’s also a match in a dark tunnel, a moment of light, just enough to reveal the path ahead and ultimately the way out.”
In a way, hope links the past and present to the future instilling meaning and purpose in our life and ultimately building resiliency. It allows you to have vision for what you hope will happen. It instills a positive attitude in times of adversity making present adversity much easier to bear and neutralizing unpleasant experiences. Hope involves the discipline of “planning and motivation and determination” to get what one hopes for. Whether you reach your goals or not, just envisioning it can make you feel better and then can motivate you to take whatever steps you need to take.
Numerous studies indicated that hope is associated with higher wellbeing, the ability to regulate emotions, as well as higher coping skills. Further, higher levels of hope are related to lower levels of depression and anxiety. My work with every client is infused with the spirit of hope and light for change.