It is obvious that it is a lack of (active) hope that has caused Germany to drop significantly in the rankings of the latest World Happiness Report. This shows that the issue affects us all. Anyone who has children or works with teenagers and young adults will be able to confirm this from their own experience.
Against this backdrop, we addressed a key question with our guests in Frankfurt on Wednesday, 15 May 2024: Is (active) hope even possible in ‘multi-crisis mode’? Is it appropriate in view of the challenges? Or could it even make the decisive difference between paralysing pessimism and superficial optimism? Is there possibly even a ‘duty to be ’hopeful’? And is it the defined goal that determines the path, or is the process of active engagement enough to bring about change? Finally: If “active hope” is a rough diamond within us – what tools do we need to make it shine?
The change of perspective was meant literally on this evening. Although the answers were individually characterised, the aim was to explore different perspectives on the topic of confidence, to reflect on them together and to promote a moderated exchange. The aim was to focus on the opportunities opened up by inner attitudes – and to understand how this attitude can create the framework for sustainable change.
Our experts Ulrich Schnabel (ZEIT Wissen), Clara Lösel (literature prize winner and poet), Torben Riehl (marine zoologist Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance), Torsten Schäfer (Professor of Online Journalism at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences) and Anoosh Sophie Werner (water activist and future designer) brought different perspectives from theory and practice to the discussion.