I often start my day by taking sweet Gracie out to do her morning business. I look at the sky and quiet my brain for just a moment, then thank the Universe for giving me everything I need for the day ahead.

It’s remarkable that I can say this prayer, but at some point in my life I started to focus less on being a victim. I don’t have to focus entirely on all the things that have gone wrong. Instead, I can honor the things that are right – the beauty, love and peace in the world around me. By taking that moment to breathe deeply into my faith and gratitude, I start my day in a positive way.

This isn’t toxic positivity. It’s not about denying the tragedy surrounding me. I know there is massive suffering. I’ve experienced it, and sometimes still do. I am deeply aware of the wars, hatred, and pain in this world. Heartbreaking. Some believe that our world is ruled by Satan, and that perhaps the only hope we can have is to be resurrected into a new world ruled by God himself.

Yet there can be hope today – in this imperfect world – whether you believe in God or not. No matter how grievous our circumstances, if we are alive hope lives inside of us. It is waiting to be realized. We have the power to decide whether to seek hope or concede to suffering.

In writing about surviving the Holocaust Viktor Frankl described enduring unimaginable horrors, yet he discovered that he still had the power to decide what kind of attitude to bring to his situation. He acknowledged he could not avoid suffering, but he still developed some sense of self-empowerment by noticing he had choice over his attitude.

Today, as I expressed gratitude and faith to whatever higher energy is out there, I chose to reach inside and touch my hope. I walked into my day believing that I have or will be given the resources I need to move forward, or at the very least, survive.

Hope lives inside you. Take a moment to touch it.