You would be forgiven for cringing at the thought of another newsletter about positivity. The unrelenting pressure to remain upbeat, no matter how difficult or stressful a situation is, has taken hold of our collective consciousness. Toxic positivity has become a frequent coping mechanism with empty platitudes and woo-woo affirmations masking genuine emotions in our relentless pursuit of happiness.

The answer to this false positivity, I believe, is radical hope. Hope is more than positivity. It requires action, it requires risk. It is rooted in a belief that another world is possible – not promised, not guaranteed. As Rebecca Solnit wrote, “Hope is not a lottery ticket you can sit on the sofa and clutch, feeling lucky. It is an axe you break down doors with in an emergency.”