The Hopeful Kingdom—Walt Disney’s Secret Ingredient

Walter was from a troubled family and joined the military to escape a difficult home life. Upon his return, fueled by a dream to venture into the cartoon industry, he and his brother launched a cartoon company, only to face bankruptcy a few years later. Despite setbacks, Walter remained undeterred. He relocated to California, where he created a cartoon that catapulted him to success with a single animation film. However, adversity struck again when his producer stole his team and the rights to the cartoon. Rather than sinking into despair, Walter embraced hope for a brighter future. On the train journey home, he conceived the iconic Mickey Mouse character. Known as Walt Disney, he rose to prominence, securing 32 Academy Awards and pioneering milestones in animation. From the groundbreaking sound cartoon “Steamboat Willie” to beloved characters including Mickey, Minnie, and Donald Duck, and culminating in the creation of Disneyland, Walt Disney’s legacy endures as the epitome of hope.

In a world filled with setbacks and adversity, understanding the profound role of hope becomes essential. Hope stands as the defining force for a fulfilling life.

What is Hope?

Hope is the belief that the future is better and you have the power to make it happen. It entails a goal-oriented mindset encompassing both pathways directed toward a goal and the motivation to persist along those pathways.1 By using pathways thinking and persistent willpower, people are better able to achieve their goals, contributing to overall well-being. Research confirms hope predicts well-being2, with studies consistently showing its positive influence across different age groups, including children, adolescents, and adults of varying ages.3,4,5

What Are the Benefits of Hope?

A hopeful mindset generally evokes feelings of happiness. The positive emotions derived from a hopeful mindset strengthen an individual’s positive outlook on life. This adaptive thinking that fosters positive feelings creates a reciprocal promotion between them. Hence, it’s not surprising that hope produces hope, as supported by its positive emotional reinforcement. Another compelling aspect that reinforces this notion is the remarkable problem-solving skills exhibited by high-hope individuals. When faced with obstacles, they navigate around them.6 This enhances their ability to achieve their goals, reinforcing their belief in setting and attaining future objectives. Indeed, hope nurtures more hope within an individual.

Numerous studies indicate many benefits associated with having high levels of hope. Hopeful individuals are better at handling stress, and they worry less.7,9 Students with a hope mindset tend to perform better academically, while high-hope athletes have improved performance in sports.8 Additionally, hopeful individuals experience more positive feelings like joy and excitement10 and find greater meaning in life.11 Hopeful people tend to foster healthy relationships.8 They also have better physical and mental health.10 And high-hope individuals are happier with life.12 The list could be expanded further, emphasizing the profound impact of hope. 

Indeed, hope helps people live their best lives! People can embrace hope as a mindset and enjoy the benefits that come with it. Hope is not a fleeting emotion but a belief in the possibility of a brighter future and the power within oneself to make it a reality. Backed by research, hope serves as a catalyst for positive change and overall well-being.

Hope in Disney

Walt Disney is celebrated for his extraordinary accomplishments, but he also experienced financial troubles, a strike by his top animators, a mental breakdown, and a disastrous opening day for Disneyland. In reflecting on his life, Walt Disney remarked, “All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all the troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me.” The setback of his initial venture led to the creation of the timeless character Mickey Mouse. Despite encountering such a monumental setback, Walt Disney epitomized the power of envisioning a brighter tomorrow and taking decisive action to pursue his beliefs. His remarkable ability to navigate through adversity, plan alternative pathways to success, and remain persistent in willpower set him apart and underpinned his multifaceted success in life. 

Now Make It Personal

Ask yourself: “What is a dream I desire to pursue but have not yet taken steps to achieve?” Then consider why this aspiration is important to you. Dedicate some time and list the reasons on paper. Visualize how achieving this goal would positively influence your life and the lives of your loved ones. Make a detailed plan outlining how you can attain your goal. Then take the first step today. Remember, hope is not passive; it is an action. Dare to hope, and begin living your best life today.

References

1. Snyder, C. R. (2002). Hope theory: Rainbows in the mind. Psychological Inquiry, 13(4), 249–275. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1304_01
2. Pleeging, E., Burger, M., & van Exel, J. (2019). The relations between hope and subjective well-being: A literature overview and empirical analysis. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 16, 1019–1041. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-019- 09802-4. 
3. Kirby, K., Sweeney, S., Armour, C., Goetzke, K., Dunne, M., Davidson, M.,  & Belfer, M. (2022) Developing Hopeful Minds: Can Teaching Hope Improve Well-being and Protective Factors in Children?, Child Care in Practice, 28:4, 504-521, DOI: 10.1080/13575279.2021.1924121
4. Ciarrochi, J., Parker, P., Kashdan, T. B., Heaven, P. C. L., & Barkus, E. (2015). Hope and emotional well-being: A six-year study to distinguish antecedents, correlates, and consequences, The Journal of Positive Psychology, 10:6, 520-532, DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2015.1015154
5. Long, N.G., Kim, E. S., Chen, Y., Wilson, M. F., Worthington Jr, E. L., & VanderWeele, T. J. (2020). The role of Hope in subsequent health and well-being for older adults: An outcome-wide longitudinal approach, Global Epidemiology, 2, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloepi.2020.100018.
6. Chang, E. C. (1998). Hope, problem-solving ability, and coping in a college student population: Some implications for theory and practice. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 54(7), 953-962. 

7. Muilenburg-Trevino, E. M. (2016). Women in Transition: A technical report. Hope Research Center. 
8. Rand, K., & Cheavens, J. (2012). Hope theory. The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology, (2 Ed.). 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195187243.013.0030. 
9. Michael, S. T. (2000). Hope conquers fear: Overcoming anxiety and panic attacks. In C. R. Snyder (Ed.), Handbook of hope: Theory, measures, and applications (pp. 301–319). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-012654050- 5/50018-X. 
10. Ciarrochi, J. Heaven, P, C. L., & Davies, F. (2007). The impact of hope, self-esteem, and attributional style on adolescents’ school grades and emotional well-being: A longitudinal study. Journal of Research in Personality, 41, 1161– 1178. 
11. Karaman, M. A., Vela, J. V., & Garcia, C. (2020). Do hope and meaning of life mediate resilience and life satisfaction among Latinx students? British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 48(5), 685-696. DOI: 10.1080/03069885.2020.1760206 
12. Bailey, T. C., Eng, W., Frisch, M. B., & Snyder, C. R. (2007). Hope and optimism as related to life satisfaction. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 2(3), 168–175. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760701409546 

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