Joybo, this is from the study you quoted to begin this discussion:

< Hopefulness of each subject was assessed using his/her answer to an item from the CES-D questionnaire, “During the past week I felt hopeful about the future.” Based on their answers to this question, study subjects were classified into three groups. Those who answered 5 to 7 days a week were classified as mostly or always hopeful, those who answered 1 to 4 days per week were classified as sometimes hopeful, and those who answered less than 1 day per week were classified as rarely or never hopeful.>

I've been pondering this topic in my spare moments....

Years ago I learned that complex goals are reached by completing many small tasks.
My daily life contains many tasks and value expressions which (I hope) will gradually compound into larger goals.

Most of my proactive awareness guides these smaller tasks, some of which may take as little as 5 seconds. Some might last half a day, or need many short efforts.

So, on the one hand I have goals, some of which are many years in progress, and may involve things I cannot control, only "hope for." That is one kind of hope.
And then there are the many little daily tasks and actions, very connected to the present moment, little short term hopes which give me lots of joy. Though their meaning is, in a sense, "sheltered" by long term hopes.
I am lucky to have so many little tasks to hope with.

I don't know what my experience would be if I couldn't maintain this level of complexity, but I am grateful I can sweep the sidewalk, knowing not everyone can.