What is hope and when do we call upon it?
Hope is linked with desire and anticipating better things in life. Perhaps you are experiencing some difficulties and things have changed with your plans, your family, your health, your career, your finances or whatever it might be. You may feel on-edge, uncertain, and/or negative about something and think that life has left you in the lurch without many options. We humans usually don’t call upon hope unless something is awry with our lives, and it is usually only then that we begin thinking about it.
What is troubling you today? Are you concerned that your job might end and that your finances will take a big hit? Are you feeling groundless because you’ve just gone through a divorce? Are you worried about the results of a medical procedure and what will happen after that? Having hope can help, as it puts you in an emotional place that helps you feel more positive in order to cope with the problems in front of you.
So, how do you get some of this hope?
People who have hope surround themselves with people who can help them feel more optimistic and negotiate the future better. People with hope use their thoughts and energy to focus on the things they can control. They focus on possibilities and not so much on the negatives. They are more resilient people and they set goals, no matter the circumstances. Cultivating the following attributes can help you get you into the habit of having some hope when needed the most:
- Setting and achieving goals
- Being around positive people
- Focusing on the present
- Being confident
- Keeping the silver lining in mind
- Never giving up
Hope may seem like an elusive quality to have, but it is one that we all should strive for. It increases your ability to face the many challenges of life and to take positive action when needed. Allow yourself to think differently. It will make a difference in your life.
