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In this webinar, co-founder of motivational interviewing and friend of The Change Companies Dr. William R. Miller offers insights on fostering and maintaining hope, even — and especially — when it is difficult. Dr. Miller shares what he has learned about the power of hope to inspire, motivate and heal in the process of behavior change and beyond.
This is an episode preview. Full webinar recordings are available in the Fidelity Platform.
About special guest, Dr. William R. Miller
With around 50 years of experience in the field, Dr. William R. Miller has been a pioneer in addiction treatment. He is the co-founder of motivational interviewing and earned his PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Oregon. He is an emeritus distinguished professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of New Mexico. Dr. Miller's insights can be explored in detail in 8 Ways to Hope, as well as his many other publications.
Jump ahead to questions covered in this blog:
- Can you tell us more about your "why" for writing 8 Ways to Hope?
- Why was it important for you to focus on the topic of hope right now?
- There's a quote from your book: "Hope cannot be pushed in. It must be admitted and absorbed. The door opens from the inside." Can you expand on that?
- How much of hope is innate versus teachable?
- How can we support someone who seems to have very little hope?
- What's the difference between "hope" and "positive thinking"?
- You used examples of more modern or mainstream influences in this book. Can you tell us more about that decision?
Q: Can you tell us more about your "why" for writing 8 Ways to Hope?
Dr. Miller: The journey of this book began when I was prompted to explore the topic of hope amidst global challenges. Through extensive research, I identified hope as a multifaceted concept comprising eight interconnected experiences, each focused on anticipating a better future.
In the book, hope is illustrated through stories, like Pandora's jar, highlighting its universal nature and prerequisites: uncertainty, a desired goal, wanting the outcome and perceiving it as possible. Hope is contrasted with fear, which narrows possibilities, yet both can coexist. Scientific studies now validate the benefits of hope, linking it to problem-solving, resilience, higher quality of life and success in various domains.
8 Ways to Hope emphasizes key aspects of hope, including desire, probability and seeing possibilities. It includes examples like the Pygmalion effect, which underscores how expectations shape outcomes. It also share insights on optimism, trust, meaning, perseverance and prophetic hope. Stories of historical figures and personal experiences illustrate these concepts, showing how hope inspires action, resilience and enduring belief in better possibilities.
Q: Why was it important for you to focus on the topic of hope right now?
Dr. Miller: There's profound and extensive literature on hope, including its deep roots in human nature alongside fear. Choosing to envision and work toward a better future represents the best of humanity, particularly in uncertain times. The process of exploring hope reveals a wide array of approaches beyond mere probability. There are diverse pathways to inspire hope in oneself and others. This includes examples like Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel. These figures embodied hope by living in opposition to despair and evil. They demonstrated that even in dire circumstances, one can make life meaningful by resisting helplessness and striving for a better horizon.
Q: There's a quote from your book: "Hope cannot be pushed in. It must be admitted and absorbed. The door opens from the inside." Can you expand on that?
Dr. Miller: Hope cannot be imposed but must come from within an individual. While you can encourage and evoke hope through conversation, such as by exploring different types of hope and finding what resonates with someone, the decision to embrace hope remains their choice. This is similar to motivational interviewing, where the role is to invite and inspire rather than to force, as the "door" to hope opens only from the inside.
Q: How much of hope is innate versus teachable?
Dr. Miller: I believe that hope is changeable. Some people are naturally more hopeful than others. Drawing from motivational interviewing, even clients who seem highly resistant are often more responsive than initially assumed. The key is to assume ambivalence exists and that change is possible, then explore what might inspire hope for the individual. The process involves finding "doors" to hope that the person is willing to open from within.
Q: How can we support someone who seems to have very little hope?
Dr. Miller: There's a challenge of fostering hope in people in very dark places, such as those calling a suicide prevention line. While offering overly simplistic reassurances isn't effective, small gestures — like a smile or kind word — can have a profound, unpredictable impact. Hope has been a powerful and enduring part of human experience and, while it can't be forced on someone, it can be nurtured and encouraged.
You can also use imagination as a tool to foster hope in motivational interviewing. One technique involves having clients write a letter to their present selves from a future version of themselves who has overcome their current struggles. This future perspective encourages compassion and provides encouragement, helping clients envision an alternative, hopeful future. While not all clients engage with this approach, the process of imagining a different future can open the door to seeing change as possible.
Q: What's the difference between "hope" and "positive thinking"?
Dr. Miller: It's important to adopt a "strengths-based" perspective, focusing on the positive traits, skills and abilities of individuals rather than solely looking for pathology or problems. This approach involves recognizing what people are doing right, such as their resilience, learned strengths, or supportive systems like faith, and using these as building blocks for growth. While distinct from fostering hope, this perspective is inherently optimistic and can help clients feel empowered. For example, instead of dwelling on setbacks, professionals can emphasize successes, like celebrating five sober days rather than focusing on two days of relapse, reinforcing positive progress.
Q: You used examples of more modern or mainstream influences in this book. Can you tell us more about that decision?
Dr. Miller: I attribute this approach to a combination of life experience over my 77 years, liberal arts education and the use of metaphors to connect with others. It's important to tailor communication — whether in writing or therapy — to resonate with the audience by using diverse metaphors, allusions and quotes, understanding that some will resonate more than others. Writing, for me, is a relational act aimed at real people, not abstract ideas. Varied life experiences help them craft messages that are relatable and impactful.
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