Hope is basically defined as a positive attitude of mind with the expectation of a positive outcome. In order to have a positive state of mind to nurture hope, one can’t allow negativity or toxic people to influence them. How do we go about changing our mindset if we are constantly surrounded by negativity? Taking baby steps is a start. A baby doesn’t one day stand up and start to walk. They first learn to crawl. One day they learn to stand up and hold on to something for balance. Gain some strength in their legs and begin to take those first steps on their own. It wasn’t done overnight but over some time. If you are struggling with maintaining a positive mindset, here are 5 ways to nurture hope back into your life.
- Change what you can by letting go of what you cannot change. Forgive those that have mentally, physically, or verbally harmed you for yourself. You may never get acknowledgement or an apology of their harm toward you. Someone else’s behavior and actions is something that you cannot change. You do not have the power to change anybody else. You can only change you! Clean the closet and eliminate anything that is negative by replacing it with empowering thoughts and people that help nurture hope.
- Surround yourself with positive people who support you and encourage you to grow. These are the people that genuinely support your happiness and celebrate any steps you are taking towards self-improvement. Positive people are resilient and create a life with support systems in place to help them stay on track. Connect with a family member, friend, or group that helps nurture hope and lifts you up.
- Focus on your strengths you begin to develop a better sense of fulfillment towards life. These skills help boost self-confidence and self-esteem. People that tend to focus on their strengths are much happier and show fewer signs of depression. People that are happier tend to lead a life that is less stressful. By focusing on your strengths and reducing stress in your life not only will you be happier, but you will begin to feel better about yourself.
- Develop coping skills by learning from the experiences that you have had in your life. Positive or negative you can learn from all of them. The best lessons learned can be from unpleasant experiences that you had. Those lessons teach us to be resilient and not to give up. Don’t let hardships weigh you down. Be proactive on addressing issues that come your way. Waiting to address an issue or trying to ignore it doesn’t make it go away. Take a step back to think about it, if you have to, and make a conscious effort to resolve it as quickly as possible. Keep a clear mind by taking time for yourself. Everybody needs a little “me” time!!
- Be grateful in all aspects of your life. When was the last time you thought about the air that you breathe or how hard your heart works even when you are sleeping? Probably not lately because we are always focused on the big events in life. Take time to stop and smell the roses and appreciate the smaller things in life. Find gratitude in the challenges you face. Challenges help hone coping skills and strength. Incorporate being grateful for something every day. Start every day or end every night by being grateful for one thing in your life. For example, today I am grateful to have a bed to sleep in tonight. Volunteer your time by giving back to your community. Nothing is more gratifying than receiving a “thank you” or smile from someone that genuinely appreciates your efforts.
These 5 ways to nurture hope are the building blocks of your foundation. They are simple in concept but take effort to make them work. Nurturing hope is having a positive mindset and having a support system that will encourage you stay focused. Surrounding yourself with positive people and blocking those that are toxic is a life changer. Be grateful for those that encourage, support, and celebrate your achievements. Pat yourself on the back for taking those baby steps. Balance yourself and start running!!
Positive Expectations,
Celeste