Heartbreak and Hope: A Story About the Power of Choice

Have you ever felt a tug-of-war between two emotions?

Not just any emotions—but big ones.

The kind that show up when your life changes in an instant.

This is the story of two emotions named Heartbreak and Hope. They once shared the same stage. But the paths they chose took them in opposite directions.

One chose to remain stuck in the past.

The other chose to move forward—because of one powerful shift in perspective.

Their conversation might sound familiar. Because if you’ve ever gone through a major loss, unexpected change, or painful ending… you’ve likely faced the same choice.

Let’s begin.

The Meeting Place

It was late afternoon in a quiet garden filled with bare branches and blooming buds.

Two familiar figures met at the crossroads bench—a place where grief and growth often cross paths.

Heartbreak arrived first.

She wore gray. Her eyes were downcast. She moved like someone carrying a weight no one could see.

Hope followed, dressed in soft yellows and sky blues. There was a steadiness in her step—a gentle strength earned through many storms.

They nodded in silence before Heartbreak spoke.

“I don’t see the point anymore.”

Heartbreak looked out at the trees. “I’ve been here so long,” she said, “I don’t remember how I got stuck at this spot. It all used to be so beautiful. But everything’s changed.”

Hope listened, not interrupting.

Heartbreak continued, her voice breaking. “He’s gone. The plans we made? Gone. Who I used to be? Gone. I try to go back, but there’s no back left. I’m just… here, stuck at the crossroad.”

She wiped the tear from her eye. “Everyone says time will heal me. But time feels like an enemy.”

Hope reached into her bag and pulled out a stone. It was etched with the word “Choice.”

“Keep it,” she said. “You’ll need it.”

Heartbreak furrowed her brow. “Choice? You think I chose this pain?”

Hope shook her head gently. “No. But you do choose what comes next.”

Why Most People Stay Stuck

Hope leaned forward, voice soft but clear. “You’re not alone. Most people think they can’t move on until something outside of them changes.”

“They wait for someone to say sorry. For things to feel fair. For the past to make sense. For the pain to disappear.”

Heartbreak nodded quickly. “Because that’s what should happen!”

“Exactly,” said Hope. “But should is not a strategy. It’s a story that keeps you stuck.”

Then she added, “You’re not broken because you feel pain. You stay broken when you believe pain is the only truth.”

Heartbreak's Argument 

Heartbreak stood, pacing with exaggerated arm movements. “You don’t get it! You’ve never lost like I have!”

Hope raised her eyes. “I’ve lost everything and still found peace. Not because it was easy. But because I realized something powerful.”

Heartbreak stopped in her tracks with a puzzled look on her face. “What?”

“That I always had choices. Even when it felt like I didn’t.”

The Turning Point

Heartbreak sat back down, weary. “Fine. Let’s say I believe you. What exactly do I have a choice about?”

Hope reached into her bag again and pulled out a list.

It read:

Things Always in Your Control

• Your thoughts

• Your words

• Your actions

Heartbreak rolled her eyes. “Great. Self-help fluff!”

“Maybe,” said Hope. “But those three things are your lifeline. When everything else feels lost and out of control, they’re still yours.”

Hope paused, then spoke with confidence.

“I can’t change that he chose to leave. But I can choose to start a new chapter in my life.”

“I can’t stop the diagnosis. But I can choose how I spend my energy going forward.”

“I can’t undo the betrayal. But I can choose to set healthy boundaries that align with my core values.”

The Secret Weapon Revealed

Heartbreak tilted her head and sighed. “So, what, you just think positive?”

Hope laughed softly. “No. That’s not resilience. That’s denial in a prettier outfit.”

She continued. “I learned to notice what was still good in my life! Not to deny the pain. But to remind myself that the pain didn’t get to decide everything.”

“I found gratitude for tiny things. A sunny day. A friendly cashier. A call from a funny friend."

“That practice changed me.”

Heartbreak squinted. “Gratitude helps you… feel hopeful?”

“Exactly!” said Hope. “Because pain narrows your view. But gratitude expands it!”

The Breakthrough

Heartbreak stared at the word etched on the stone: Choice.

“You think if I accept that I always have choices, I’ll start to feel happier?”

Hope shrugged her shoulder. “Maybe. But you will start to feel stronger.”

She added, “You might still feel sadness. You might still miss what was. But you’ll stop waiting for someone else to fix the situation, and focus on what's in your control to move forward.”

“That’s how we rebuild.”

Heartbreak looked down at the the list in her hand.

What It Means to Be a Victor

Hope stood. “A victim waits for someone else to save them. A victor uses what they still have to take one small step forward.”

She smiled. “Victors don’t avoid pain. They acknowledge it, then keep moving on with new purpose.”

Heartbreak looked down and swallowed. “I don’t feel like I can be a victor.”

“Maybe not today,” Hope said. “But even thinking that you will try to be a victor tomorrow? That’s a choice. And it’s the beginning of your next chapter.”

The iCope2Hope Resilience Framework: Why it Works

This story isn’t just metaphor.

It’s the foundation of my iCope2Hope Resilience Framework—a 3-step action plan that transforms life-changing setbacks into new purpose and meaning so you can flourish in life.

Here’s why most people stay stuck after loss:

• They believe the story is over.

• They think they have to feel strong before taking a step.

• They think moving on means forgetting or pretending things are fine when they're not.

But the iCope2Hope framework is different. It’s built on three pillars that guide you from pain to purpose:

1. Develop a Growth Mindset: Learn to accept what you can’t change—and take courageous steps toward what you can.

2. Discover Your Superpowers: Identify the hidden strengths you forgot you had. You’ve survived hard things before. You can again.

3. Think Outside the Box: Explore creative paths forward you never considered—because resilience isn’t about going back. It’s about discovering a new direction.

This isn’t toxic positivity. This is radical self-leadership, grounded in grace and gratitude.

A Conversation You May Need to Have With Yourself

You might not have sat on a crossroads bench like Heartbreak and Hope.

But maybe you’ve had this conversation inside your own head.

Maybe you’re there right now—feeling stuck between past pain and possible healing.

Maybe you’ve told yourself:

• “I’m too old to start over.”

• “It’s too late to feel better.”

• “Nothing good can come from this.”

But here’s what I've learned through my own setbacks:

The power to change your story doesn’t come from the past. It comes from the next choice you make.

And you’re allowed to choose again. Every day. Every moment.

Choose to embrace change, not run from it. You can do this!

Takeaways:

You always have choices—when you focus on what’s in your power to take action.

Here are 7 simple takeaways:

1. You don’t have to like what happened to move forward from it.

2. You always control your thoughts, words, and actions.

3. Gratitude doesn’t erase pain—it expands possibility.

4. Victors feel and process their emotions. They take action anyway.

5. The smallest step counts—especially on the days you want to give up.

6. Your past shapes you. But it doesn’t get to define your future.

7. You’re not alone. You are seen, loved, and capable of creating new chapters in life.

Put It In Action

I'll leave you with a few reflection questions:

• What’s one thing in your life that you can’t change—but need to accept?

• What’s one small action you can take this week to move forward?

• What are three things you’re grateful for today?

• What would your alter ego—your strongest, most hopeful self—say to you right now?

Let those answers guide your next step.

And if you need a hand sorting it out?

I’m here.

As a Resilience Coach and author of Flourishing After Adversity, I’ve walked through loss, betrayal, illness, and starting over at age 58. I didn’t just survive—I found joy again. And I’d love to help you do the same.

When you're ready, let’s talk. Schedule a free 15-minute Clarity Call here.

You don’t have to stay stuck in heartbreak.

There’s hope. And it begins with your next choice. You can do this!