Believing a future outcome will be successful should be based on reasoned analysis.  Hoping for good results is optimistic but might not be practical.

Optimism can raise your and others spirts.  It can be used to motivate yourself and others. The danger occurs when optimism creates a false belief resulting in lack of preventative or mitigating actions.

Beware of False Assessments

Hoping for the best and proclaiming everything will be okay makes us feel good.  We place our trust in the proclaimer and allow our fears to be assuaged.

This is fine if everything does work out.  We are saved the anxiety associated with a false worry or even panic which could lead to inappropriate response.

The downside is, by not preparing for negative impacts, because our false hope has led us to believe everything will be alright, by the time we realize mitigating action is needed, it could be too-late.

Be prepared

Although it takes effort,  preparing for bad outcomes (although potentially a wasted effort) is a better way to eliminate fear and worry.

This principle can be stated as: “Consider what can go wrong, don’t assume all will be fine”  This proactive approach creates a framework for resolution founded on logic not luck.

Disasters are for the Unprepared

Being ready to address issues, knowing anything can and will occur is not an absolute safeguard against disaster but it is a far better approach than hoping nothing bad will ever occur.

This is a proven methodology, which when put in practice, as it has been by multiple organizations over decades, clearly works.  So why hope for the best, plan for it!