the importance of hope in improving mental health

as some of you may know, may is mental health awareness month!

what's an amazing way to improve our mental health? having hope!

even if you don't consider yourself a 'hopeful person', we all have the ability to strengthen our hope and increase our positivity, even in challenging situations!

let's talk about that!

what is hope?

• having hope is how we think about our future and goals
• using personal agency to achieve a desired outcome

what is the power of hope? how can it help us?

• hope can improve our lifespans
  • according to a 2019 study, researchers found that hope and optimism is specifically related to an 11 to 15 percent longer life span, on average, and to greater odds of living to the age of 85 or beyond
• help us choose healthier lifestyle habits
  • with hope, people are more likely to engage in physical activity and eat a healthy diet, as well as less likely to smoke, which in turn contribute to better health over time
• it can reduce physical and mental pain
• it can motivate us
• people with hope are more likely to attain their goals
• help cope with and recover from illness
• stronger sense of meaning and purpose
• increase our resilience

how can we have hope?

• believing good things will happen
• looking on the bright side
• seeing challenges as opportunities
• hoping for the best
• find silver linings
• practice gratitude
• keep looking forward
• focus on your strengths
• reframe negative thoughts

remember that hope is challenging! it can be a hard thing to find and hold, but i suggest you give it a try and don't be discouraged if you don't see change right away! all good things come with time (:

⋆ ˚｡⋆✿˚ no rain, no flowers. ˚✿⋆｡˚ ⋆