Fostering hope can often make it easier to regain control and keep moving forward despite the challenges you may face. There are a number of actions that can help.
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To focus on the positive
Paying attention to the here and now helps you be fully present, rather than reliving the past or anticipating the future. It can help you identify and manage your emotions, improve your concentration, and reduce stress.
Reading words of encouragement or viewing inspiring images and quotes can remind you of what’s important and the things you care about. They can help you persevere through hard times by restoring your motivation.
Taking inspiration from people who are experiencing similar difficulties can help you feel less alone and put your feelings into words. You can often draw on the things they do to cope with their difficulties to help find strategies for feeling better. People who have been through challenging periods and are now feeling better can also be a source of hope.
Focusing on beauty and simple pleasures can help reduce stress and dispel negative thoughts in day-to-day life and difficult times. It can also act as a reminder of what’s important and help you focus on the little things you can do to feel better.
Humour and laughter can have many positive physical and psychological effects. For example, laughter can reduce stress and help improve digestion and sleep, as well as boost fitness and cardiovascular health. It can even help reduce fatigue and some types of pain. In short, it has many of the same benefits as moderate exercise.
Learning to celebrate successes and taking time to pat yourself on the back can increase self-esteem. It can also help you be kinder and more forgiving with yourself.
When times get tough, telling yourself that things will get better can give you the motivation you need to keep moving forward and find solutions that improve your well-being. Staying hopeful often means imagining a time in the future when you will be able to tell yourself “This is why I kept going.” Staying hopeful can help you reconnect with the things that are important to you.
To take care of yourself
Separating your mental health problems from your sense of self is a way of asserting that these problems don’t define who you are. People dealing with mental health issues are people in their own right—complete with their own strengths, limitations, and needs.
Devoting time to your spiritual life can be a source of comfort. Having spiritual beliefs or taking part in religious or spiritual activities can foster hope, provide a sense of peace, and improve your quality of life. Your practices or beliefs can help you make sense of difficult times and provide answers to certain questions. They can also provide opportunities to build relationships with fellow members of your community.
Doing things that utilize your strengths can increase your sense of competence and well-being. It can also help you identify what’s good for you and prioritize activities that make your feel useful and capable.
Comparing yourself to others can be hard on your self-esteem. It may lead you to downplay your successes and give you the impression that others are doing better than you. It can cause stress and fear of not measuring up, which can prevent you from trying new things. Avoiding excessive comparisons with others is good for your well-being and self-esteem.
We tend to believe that we move forward by pushing ourselves, and slide backwards if we don’t. But respecting your limits, being kind to yourself, and capitalizing on your strengths can be empowering and help improve your self-esteem. Setting limits and learning to express them can also help you maintain healthy relationships with the people you care about.
To empower yourself
Taking your abilities into account when setting the pace of your life can help you avoid overloading your schedule and taking on too much. It will give you a better chance of achieving your goals and doing the things you feel are important. Realistic scheduling also reduces stress and fatigue.
Clearly expressing your thoughts, emotions, and needs helps you feel better and increases satisfaction with interpersonal relationships. The people around you can’t guess your needs. Expressing them helps people get to know you and better understand your situation. It enables them to treat you with respect and take care of you.
Speaking your mind in situations that bother you helps reduce frustration. It can help you stay connected with your needs and yourself. Being assertive when things don’t suit you can also boost your self-esteem.
More strategies
There are other strategies you can use to find inspiration for good lifestyle habits.
To incorporate these actions into your daily routine
To make it easier to incorporate simple actions into your schedule, visit the My Tools platform and create your account.
There you can find inspiration and create a personalised list of actions with the My small steps tool. This platform also offers other tools to help you take care of yourself on a daily basis.
