Psychology Today: 3 Things to Do to Boost Hope

"3 ways to stay hopeful and boost hope

1. Be kind—to yourself and others.

• Curtail your intake on media. We are constantly bombarded by media with “breaking news” and may feel it’s necessary to be up on everything all the time. Although it might be a feather in our cap to be the first person to hear about and then share some exciting new tidbit, the time it takes to be so informed can take away from living life now. Go easy on yourself. Consider watching/reading a couple of news shows/articles a couple of times a day. (Once a day is even better.)
• Take mini-breaks. These can be anywhere from 30 seconds to a couple of minutes, two or three times a day. Shift your focus from whatever you are doing to something that brings you a feeling of happiness.
• Practice random acts of kindness every day. Go ahead and help an elder across the street, or get the item off the top shelf at the grocery store for the person in a wheelchair, or give a sincere compliment to a coworker, or hold the elevator door open for all to enter or exit freely.

2. Treat each day as a gift.

• Express love tangibly. Be generous with hugs for loved ones, encouraging words for coworkers, and acts of kindness for all.
• Revel in the beauty around you. There is beauty everywhere; sometimes we just have to shift our focus. Notice the color of the sky, the grain in the wood, the water dripping off the roof, the sound of children laughing, or bird song.
• Be grateful for everything. The roof over our head, food in the refrigerator, the warmth of a sweater, and the people in our lives, especially family and friends — even in the bleakest of times, we have much to be grateful for.

3. Make a difference in the lives of others.

• Volunteer. If you have a special skill, consider sharing it; be a reader at your local school or a helper at a soup kitchen. And if you have a special interest, consider getting involved in an organization that improves the life of others less fortunate. Volunteering puts our lives and the lives of others into perspective.
• Make calls and write post cards. If being social isn’t your strong suit, consider making phone calls or sending postcards to government officials to express your concerns.
• Be kind. It’s worth repeating: By being kind to yourself and others, you automatically make the world a better, more hopeful place and pave the way for a brighter future."

Read the full article here!

Reflection:

What do you do to boost your hope?

#Hope #Happiness #MentalHealth