In her most recent publication, The Book of Hope, these are some of the key differences that Jane Goodall draws between hope and other positive emotions like optimism.

• Hope is being able to see that there is light despite the darkness.
• Hope does not deny that evil exists, rather is a response to it.
• Optimism can quickly change to pessimism when the circunstances change. But hope is a much deeper source of strength that is practically unshakeable.

Finally one of the important determinants of hope is one’s agency – one’s ability to be effective. This is true whether it is an organisation or the environment. Empowering people to effect a change is how hope survives and grows.