5 Ways to Stay Hopeful During Uncertain Times

The inauguration may have left many people feeling more hopeful & uplifted, but for others, not so much. It’s not like waving a magic wand and having life suddenly become a bowl of cherries. It may take months or even years for that to happen.

Life isn’t always the way we want it to be. When we glance at the headlines, we see that we still live in very uncertain times. This year we have learned that the job we thought was safe might not be there tomorrow; there’s always some natural disaster somewhere, and people still seem to be more cruel than kind.

It’s easy to get caught up in a negative spiral of self-doubt and anxiety. How do you stay hopeful and positive when so much of what you see around you are negative messages and people acting out of fear?

1. Be here now

By practicing mindfulness, you’ll find joy out of the simple things in life. Worries and fears of the unknown can melt away if you focus on the present. Look for things in your life for which you’re grateful. The more you look, the more you’ll find.

2. Look for ways to exhibit compassion and empathy

Spreading hope needs to start somewhere so why not with you? By looking for opportunities to pay it forward through random acts of kindness, you can inspire others to do the same. Your compassionate heart and ability to walk in another’s shoes will be the guide to those around you.

3. Do something

Without hope, we become stagnant and depressed & may prefer to hide from the world. If you find that to be the case, then it’s time to force yourself into action, even if you don’t feel like it. Get out of the house. Call a friend and suggest an outing! Get out in nature because natural spaces have been found to create calm and contentment in those who spend even a few minutes there. The goal is to find a positive action and embrace it, whatever that might be. Pick up litter, hug a child, do something that makes you feel good inside.

4. Technology may help.

Sometimes our depression can stem from the winter season’s shorter daylight times. Commonly known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, this can decrease our feelings of hope. Sometimes, UV-Free Therapy Lamps, with Bright White Light can help. This is the exact one I have and I keep it right in front of me at my laptop. Bonus: it also improves your lighting for ZOOM meetings!

5. Eat more of these foods.

Fatty fish, dark chocolate, oats, bananas, fermented foods, nuts, seeds and berries, beans, lentils and (Yaaaaay) coffee! Not surprisingly, these are all healthy for you too!

By practicing these steps regularly, you’ll find yourself able to look forward to each day, no matter what’s going on around you