These days our world is struggling with HOPE versus TRUTH – as we battle an invisible scourge that has brought powerful and mighty nations and societies to their knees. It has caged hundreds of millions of the citizens of planet earth into the sanctity and safety of their homes – helpless and sometimes hopeless on what to do next. The irony is that the most evolved species on this planet is in chains as the rest of nature/animal kingdom enjoys their freedom, blissfully unaware of the chaos around them. Karma has its own way to re-establish life’s balance.

I started thinking more about Hope and Truth. What do they mean, how are they connected and how do we deal with them in times of a calamity. I turned to Wikipedia to establish a baseline of what the words are supposed to mean

Hope is an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes with respect to some happenings (events, etc.) …. This is an abstract concept, a feeling, based largely on one’s personal values.

Truth is most often used to mean being in accord/sync with fact or reality …. In comparison, it is based on irrefutable data and facts.

Given this baseline what should we rely on — Hope or Truth.

My take would be that we first need to seek the Truth. Separate the subjectivity, the half-truths, and the conjectures, and filter it down to the absolute truth. Often, this may be very bitter and difficult to accept. Realize that it is still the truth, based on facts and (sometimes) scientific data. Once the Truth is established, communicate it – so that everyone is not just on the same music sheet/page but playing the same notes and there is harmony vs. noise. The harmony may be the proverbial quiet before the storm, but it is still the absolute truth.

Given that in most cases the raw truth may be very difficult for the majority to deal with, Hope provides the crutch to stabilize the most difficult situations. When the Truth is a set of bitter pills to swallow, Hope glides in to help soften the raw edges of pain. As we often say, ‘let us hope for the best’ given whatever situation one may be in. My variation to that would be – ‘let us hope for the best after we have accepted the truth’. Hope is an attempt to look at any situation, however grim, in an optimistic manner to help everyone deal with the Truth. It does not replace the awful situation that Truth has outlined. It looks for ways to minimize its harsh impacts and allows us to deal with the facts of the Truth.

So, always lead with the Truth and follow it up with a liberal dose of Hope. Note what I just said follow it up with Hope, and not half-truths in the guise of hope.

Keeping aside the dangerous conditions we live in currently; I believe this approach of Truth first and then Hope will be useful in multiple situations. At work, if your deliverables are delayed – could be the code you have to submit, test cases incomplete, or program execution delays – start with the Truth first and then bring Hope in, to manage mitigation plans, etc. In your personal situations, the same approach will be more helpful. Rip that band-aid once and deal with it, rather than trying to tip-toe around the truth.

And there is a third parameter, which I gave not even brought up. FAITH. For those of us who have a strong Faith north star in their lives – Hope becomes believable and very real when your Faith kicks in.

So, when you add the 3rd wheel of Faith into this discussion – your bicycle becomes a stable tricycle. Nothing will faze you now. However dire the Truth may be, the follow-on Hope backed by your strong Faith will see you through any storm, however long, dark and powerful it may last.

So, take care, stay safe and let only the Truth be your starting point to guide you forward