When I sat down to start thinking about this week’s Goody, I was honestly not sure where we were going. Even now, I have an idea where the next few weeks will take us, but I am not sure exactly how it will come out. Starting this week we are going on an adventure into what I call the “Priceless Gifts.” “Priceless Gifts” are something that cost us the giver nothing to share with someone else, but they are “Priceless” to the one who receives them.
Our first destination on this journey is one of my favorites – HOPE
What is Hope?
Good Old Mirriam Webster’s defines Hope as, “desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment or, expectation of fulfillment or success.”
Psych Central derives its definition from the “Hope Theory,” developed by American psychologist Charles Snyder.
“Hope is the belief that your future will be better than the present and that you have the ability to make it happen. It involves both optimism and a can-do attitude.” So, what does all that mean in real life? To me, hope is believing that no matter what challenges I have or am currently facing I expectantly believe that in the near future I will overcome and attain the goals and dreams that I have for my future. It is believing and expecting that those things outside of my control will work in my favor as well as having confidence in my own determination and abilities to impact those things that are in my control to reach the goal. I have HOPE that you the reader will read this entire piece and as a result be filled with hope and be inspired to share that hope with others.
Why Hope?
- High-hope people tend to have higher levels of overall well-being.
- Hope reduces feelings of helplessness, increases happiness, and improves our quality of life.
- Stronger sense of purpose and meaning
- Improves mental wellbeing.
- Reduces stress
- Helps with the immune system thus the number of chronic illnesses
- Increases self-worth, self-belief, and self-confidence.
- Encourages you to take positive action.
- Encourages you to surround yourself with like-minded people
- Reduces sadness depression and anxiety
- Decreased sleep problems
- Better overall physical health
- Reduced risk of all-cause mortality
When to share Hope?
The simple answer to that question is MUCH easier said than done. Why would I say that? I say that, because we all know that there are times when we have no hope to share, because we are in the midst of our own struggles and challenges that at the moment, we cannot see a way out of. So, before we can share hope again, we must find a way of recharging ours. Here are a few ideas and suggestions to help you get started –
- Think of your goals as exciting challenges. Consistently imagine how you’ll feel when you get there.
- Keep your goals high but realistic.
- Be flexible and creative. When brainstorming your solutions
- Increase your motivation.
- What strengths can you draw on to achieve your goals?
- What is currently working for you?
- When were you successful in similar situations and why?
- Expect roadblocks. Don’t get discouraged by them.
- Persist, even under stressful conditions. Resistance and challenges only make you better and stronger.
- Take it one step at a time. If you’re struggling to reach your goals, think of one small step you can take each day.
- Keep your goals in mind, but focus on living and doing what you can in the here and now.
- Remember that you can still control some things in your life.
- Practice your faith including prayer and or meditation
- Turn to humor. When you’re feeling hopeless, watch a funny movie. A 2003 study found that laughter can increase our levels of hope.
- Gain strength from others. It’s OK to be a receiver of hope when your running on empty.
- Try to keep some semblance of a self-care routine.
- Learn to identify and reframe negative thought patterns.
Now back to the question for this section – When to share Hope?
ANYTIME. ALL THE TIME. Every chance that presents itself!
Who to share Hope with?
The simple answer here is much like the answer to the previous one. You share hope with anyone and everyone with whom we have the opportunity to do so. We never know what another may be dealing with in that moment. Us sharing just a glimmer of hope with them may just enough to relight their candle of hope.
How to share Hope?
- A kind smile
- A genuine compliment
- Show support and belief in their dreams
- Listen intently
- Offer emotional support
- Express your love and affection
- Say encouraging words to them
- Express your own hope
- Express your gratitude
- Remind them of their strengths and other positive attributes
- Remind them of past successes.
A few final thoughts. Much like we discovered regarding sharing a smile last week, sharing hope is contagious as well. Sharing hope not only increases the hope in the one who receives, it increases the hope within the giver. Remember, sharing hope cost us nothing more than a little time and effort, but the benefits are priceless to the one we share it with. You might never know how one small simple act that shared hope changed the life of another that was on the brink of completely giving up!
