Hope in Hard Times: 10 Strategies

We hope for so many things in life, and sometimes hope is all we have left. When the going gets tough, it can be difficult to find hope.

The old saying that hope is the only thing holding us up from sinking into darkness has never been more true. 

When you feel like there is no hope, or need a little bit of it in life, explore how to get some and know this isn't an easy step but one worth taking if we are all looking for happiness on our path.

Diminishing feelings of hope are a natural part of the human growth process. As soon as you notice yourself about to give up on it, know that it's time to snap back into joy and take some tips below for how to restore your hope when there may be no more left.

When people grow out of their present situation or experience loss - such as through perceived losses like feeling lost in one’s identity or relationship with someone else- they often feel tempted by despairing thoughts and start losing notions of hope altogether. But this is not something we need to stand idly by while happening!

The good news is that you can restore your hope. When you do, it then leads to the experience of other positive emotions and mindsets - such as bliss, love, happiness, a sense of purposeful direction.

Hope is always there when we need it most. In this blog post, I will share with you 10 strategies that will help you find hope no matter what life throws at you!

1) Be thankful for what you have. Too often we lose hope, but never forget what's right in front of us. We all have something to be thankful for - make sure you're appreciating it!

2) Find a way to serve others. Helping others is one of the best ways to help yourself. If you need an easy way out, just think about all those people who have it so much worse than we do and say "what can I give back?" Don't underestimate how great that feels!

3) Smile more often. You've seen it before - that moment when someone's face lights up in a smile. You may have even made them laugh or brightened their day, but did you ever wonder how they make YOU feel? When we do nice things for others, the positive energy is contagious and can spread to everyone involved!

4) Try a new thing today. Whether it's dressing up in your favorite outfit or going out to do something you've never done before. It's a great way to recharge your energy and get out of the rut.

5) Go outside. Step outside and get fresh air into your lungs! See if you can stay out there for ten breaths, then wander around as long as possible before returning to work or home.

6) Surround yourself with positivity. The people you interact with throughout the day can have a huge effect on your mood. If it seems like no one cares about what's going on in your life, try to find someone who does and ask for some help along the way!

7) Repeat positive mantras or affirmations. Mantras or affirmations can be a fantastic way to get much-needed perspective. Uttering them aloud in the morning so they are heard by your subconscious mind, you will feel more positive about yourself and have an easier time with challenges throughout the day. Mantra's or affirmations that speak of self-worth like "I am beautiful" for example, may sound cheesy but it is actually true!

8) Say thank you to yourself. I know how hard it can be to take a step back and appreciate all the things you do well. It's even harder when we're our own harshest critic! Take some time out of your day just to say nice words about yourself because who knows? You might need them later on down the road.

9) Enjoy the small things. There are many small moments in life that can bring happiness and joy. These little things make our lives so special, for they remind us to take a step back from the difficulties of day-to-day living and enjoy what we have while it lasts.

10) Meditate and visulaize. For some, the best way to find hope is taking a short break from their day. The momentary pause can help provide perspective and calm anxiety as you return to your daily routine.

Above are just a few of the ways you can restore hope and happiness to your life. These tactics will help remind you that good things happen, regardless of past or future failures! I recommend trying these methods for at least 15 minutes per day so they have time to grow in strength - but it's up to you if this is something worth investing in on an hourly basis.

Know that there are always ways to find hope and happiness in the midst of hard times, no matter what hardships you're experiencing!

Love & Light