Hope Begins With a Thought

Whenever I say thought literacy is the cure to the mental health crisis I get the same pushback: It’s living standards, not thoughts. That people are struggling because of the economy, the cost of living, or whatever external factors they believe are the “real” issue. Some will say I’m only speaking from books and not lived experience.

I get where they’re coming from, but their comment just shows why thought literacy is needed—and why we need a clearer sense of what it really offers.

Power of Thought and Perspective

Think of any person you know, famous or not, who has made a difference. Jane Goodall and Zohran Mamdani come to mind for me.

Jane had such an impact on my life that I still tear up thinking about her passing. And Mamdani just made history in the highly publicized New York mayoral race.

Both are figures who, in Jane’s case, have made, and in Mamdani’s case, are promising to make meaningful change.

Now, think about their thought habits.

If Jane Goodall had listened to critics who said her naming and describing animals was unscientific or silly and she stopped, would she have made the impact she did? And Mamdani. If he listened to the millionaires threatening to leave, or the hundreds of people telling him he couldn’t run or would never win, do you think he would have kept going?

Fun fact: If you watch closely, in some reels you’ll see Mamdani use thought literacy to manage his anxiety.

Thoughts Are the Differentiator

Thought literacy is the highest form of intelligence and the foundation of success. Even when people “get lucky” and have access to opportunities others don’t, how they approach those opportunities determines how much they benefit.

If someone thinks they aren’t good enough, they may ignore the opportunity entirely. If they don’t recognize its value, they may miss it altogether. But if they see it as a genuine chance to grow or achieve their goals, they are far more likely to see meaningful results.

Thoughts Are the Catalyst for Change

Thoughts won’t magically change the system, but they are the catalyst for changing it.

When people believe they are worthy and deserving, they advocate for themselves. They can recognize manipulative content and understand how divisiveness and media narratives shape thinking, which helps them make more strategic decisions about what they watch and consume.

Believing in their own value also influences how they act in the world. They vote for instead of against their own best interest just to “own” someone else. In making these choices, they also set an example, influencing those around them to do the same.

Thoughts Were Overpromised

For a long time, thoughts have been misrepresented. Without thought literacy and a framework for understanding how thoughts actually work, people become vulnerable to ideas like “think it and it happens.”

This kind of magical thinking is an example of unhealthy, distorted thought. It often leads to frustration, slowly chipping away at confidence, and makes people believe something is wrong with them instead of realizing they were misled from the start.

While you can’t just think something and have it magically happen, developing thought literacy and learning to manage your thoughts makes life easier and sets you up to achieve your goals.

Thoughts Are Strategic and Foundational

Thoughts are the foundation of life and consciousness. They shape our emotions, our perceptions, and how we understand our place in the world. While thought literacy won’t erase the systemic issues that cause daily stress and mental struggle, it empowers people to navigate those challenges more clearly. It also provides the internal tools and drive not only to create real change, but to build the resilience needed to handle pushback while doing so.

“I want you to understand that we are part of the natural world. And even today, when the planet is dark, there still is hope. Don’t lose hope. If you lose hope, you become apathetic and do nothing.” — Jane Goodall

Hope begins as a thought. From that thought, leaders and changemakers rise.

I love you, Jane. Thank you.

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P.S. Thought literacy expands the definition of metacognition into a daily practice. From a meta perspective, this article is both a demonstration and a discussion of thought literacy. I’m using my own thought literacy to shape these ideas and explain how thought literacy can generate influence, while also showing how others have influenced my thinking. In this way, the piece demonstrates the principle at the heart of the article: thoughtful ideas influence others, and those influences ripple outward, shaping more thinking beyond ourselves.