When you look at the sky or ocean, I wonder if it is the blue colour that makes you feel calm and serene? Feeling hopeful? That’s great as being hopeful is beneficial for you.
Here is a summarized version of an article on being hopeful: 5 ways to cultivate hope when you don’t have any from the TIME magazine, dated November 20, 2023.
What is hope?
As explained by Chan Hellman, founding director of the Hope Research Center at the University of Oklahoma:
Hope is a way of thinking.
It is not wishful thinking or blind optimism. Hope comes with the belief that the future can be better and more importantly, we have the capacity to pursue that future.
Hope is not just a thought process, it is about taking action!
Hopeful is beneficial
Hope is one of the strongest predictors of well-being.
People who feel hopeful have favourable health, both physically and mentally, and have stronger support system and live longer.
So, we should all practise being hopeful as it is worthwhile for you!
5 strategies to be hopeful
- Give yourself permission to be hopeful: This makes you look forward to the future!
- Set at least one meaningful goal: Something that you want to do, not something that you need to do!
- Brainstorm solutions: Think of ways of achieving that goal in step 2 so that you do not lose hope of not attaining your goal.
- Call your support team: Make a list of your biggest supporters, so in times of need, you know who you can contact.
- Tap into your imagination: Visualize how you would feel or the results from achieving your goal.
