I Hope So: How to Choose Hope Even When It's Hard

by Robyne Hanley-Dafoe

Hope isn’t just a feeling—it’s the key to rewiring your brain for resiliency and well-being, even in the toughest times.

When the world feels divided and the future uncertain, does holding onto hope seem unthinkable? In I Hope So, Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe, the award-winning author of Stress Wisely and Calm Within the Storm, shows you how to use the power of neuroscience, physiology, and psychology to access a well of hope that already exists within you. As an acclaimed behavioural educator and resiliency expert, Dr. Robyne has taught countless individuals and organizations to face the future with confidence, and now she’s here to help you live hope-filled even on your darkest days.

I Hope So proves that hope is not a luxury or toxic optimism—it’s the essential force propelling the human experience by inspiring action and igniting personal transformation. Dr. Robyne illustrates how hope has helped people and societies rebuild through some of the toughest chapters of human history. Revealing the scientific evidence for how hope makes you stronger, braver, and kinder, she gives you practical tools to access and cultivate it in your own life. You will also learn how hope activates the brain’s natural ability to bounce back from setbacks, gain tools to build resiliency in challenging circumstances, and discover the most content, well-resourced, and successful version of yourself.

Choosing to live hope-filled in a struggling world is a radical act of resistance. With practical, evidence-based exercises and plenty of warmth and humour, Dr. Robyne teaches you how hope can become a daily practice and transform your relationships, workplace, and community. Whether you’re facing personal struggles, navigating uncertainty, or simply seeking a more positive outlook, this empowering and inclusive guide offers proven strategies to help you live truly well.

Genres: Self Help

296 pages, Paperback

Published February 10, 2026

Reviews

[Katie]

I Hope So: How to Choose Hope Even When It's Hard is an inspiring, evidence-driven guide for anyone seeking resilience and purpose in uncertain times. Dr. Robyne Hanley Dafoe blends neuroscience, psychology, and personal insight into a compassionate roadmap for cultivating hope not as naive optimism, but as a practical, life affirming strategy.

What makes this book stand out is its balance of scientific rigor and human warmth. Dr. Robyne explains how hope rewires the brain for resilience, strengthens social bonds, and fuels meaningful action, all while offering accessible, actionable exercises readers can use daily. The book is both empowering and grounding, showing that hope is a skill, not a luxury.

Her approach is inclusive, practical, and gently motivational, offering readers tools to navigate personal challenges, workplace pressures, and societal uncertainty. I Hope So is ideal for those seeking a grounded yet uplifting framework to cultivate optimism, resilience, and meaningful engagement with life even in difficult circumstances.

[Lisa Bragg · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's the book we need right now. I have two copies!
I was gifted a book from Dr. Robyn and Tonia (Sipology), but I had to buy another copy to give someone else hope!
(the book also has the most beautiful cover - it's like a touchstone for hope).

[Danielle Franco · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book - its message - is everything the world needs right now. Everyone should read it. If you feel hopeless, this book will be your hope-dealer, so you can become one yourself. Borrow belief from me, this book is the heart hug you probably don’t even realize you need. 💞 #ihopeso #hopedealer