The mental shift that sparks joy
Experts reveal how the power of hope can boost your resilience during hard times and increase your happiness in the future
As you FaceTime with your little grandkids, you marvel at their joy as they show off their latest artwork full of blooming flowers. In a word, they’re bursting with hope.
If only you could be too. Well, they’re children, you tell yourself. It’s harder for stressed adults to look on the sunny side. Though we’re all experiencing somewhat of a “hope deficit” during these challenging times, it is possible to both cultivate this positive mindset and use it as a springboard to a brighter future.
“Hope is simply the ability to envision and believe in a joyful future,” reveals Denise Larsen, Ph.D., director of Hope Studies Central at the University of Alberta. “Research shows that when we make the decision to hope, we’re more likely to behave as if good things will happen and engage in trying to make them happen.” In fact, studies show that hopefulness is one of the best predictors of our ability to overcome challenges.
Even more important, hope is uniquely qualified to help us through the unprecedented stress we’re all facing. “We’re optimistic when the likelihood of a positive outcome is high,” says Larsen. “In a way, it’s easy to be optimistic. But when the future is unknown, we talk in the language of hope—it acknowledges uncertainty.”
Simply put, hope is incredibly powerful because it isn’t wishful thinking, it’s active thinking, spurring us to move forward and solve problems. Just read on to learn how to spark this energizing, empowering, peace-giving mindset.