A positive view of the future; that things will improve. A reason to hang on.

Well, since no one’s mentioned it…(Do not allow yourself to sing this to the tune of The Yellow Rose of Texas..)

BY EMILY DICKINSON (obsessed, as always with the dash—.)

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops – at all -

And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard -
And sore must be the storm -
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.

A false belief which distorts reality by bringing future in our favor.

Isn’t Hope that which springs eternal in the human breast? Alexander Pope seems to think so.

@Espiritus_Corvus said it quite well.