Sources of Hope

Why do we hope? Life is full of suffering for all of us, yet some are more hopeful of better times than others. Religion provides a comforting home for many, and I'm sure it is the source of hope for those folks. What if you're not religious or don't believe in a spiritual realm? Are these people without hope or can hope spring from another source? Is it a belief that the wheel of fate will turn and things will eventually improve?  What if you don't believe in fate? Are there other sources of hope? Can a firm sense of confidence in one's own abilities generate a hopeful attitude toward the future?