Program Overview

“Hope” is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without words
And never stops at all.
—Emily Dickinson

Why is it that one individual can survive a trauma or tragedy and eventually be able to thrive while another loses hope, may be emotionally paralyzed, and remains depressed? This seminar will explore this enigma of hope and resilience with the intention of trying to understand the phenomenon and identify whether resilience and hope are inborn or if they can be developed. As parent, teacher, therapist, or mentor, can we nurture these qualities in ourselves and others?

These past few years have brought us all many challenges. Through it, many of us have struggled with finding hope and maintaining our resilience. Decades ago, C.G. Jung also recognized that we live in political, economic, and spiritually distressing times. For Jung, the hope of humans and the world at large depended ultimately on the inner work individuals do in their most intimate inner world. This work not only gives greater meaning to our lives, it connects us to an inner Self, capable of transcending our personal obstacles and collective anxieties. Thus, even in the extreme environment of a Nazi concentration camp, existential psychologist Viktor Frankl saw that individuals who could find meaning or hope stood a better chance of survival than those who lacked these things. James Hollis concurs that through the paths of inner exploration — the tools of depth psychology, classical literature, philosophy, dream work, art, and myth, we gain access to our “locus of knowing” — a wellspring of deep resilience beyond the ego, always available to guide us back to the imperatives of our soul.

Though many of the challenges of our times are unique, the path through for us — personally and collectively — will always rely on our capacity for creativity, wisdom, and connection to a reality larger than ourselves. Research indicates that hope—the implication that there is the possibility of a better future — can help us manage stress and anxiety and cope with adversity. It contributes to our well-being and happiness and motivates positive action. The body of evidence shows that hope is the mindset that drives resilient behaviors.

Through a combination of presentation by our faculty and the monks of Glenstal Abbey, we will draw on the potential we all have to find hope and meaning and to foster our resilience for the challenging days ahead.