Choose to Have Hope
How can we practice being hopeful?
Perhaps it begins in the quiet times, the times when worries seem far away, when friends and family are near and prayers from the heart flow freely. These are times when we can be thankful for the connections we have in life: especially our connection to God. The love that God has for us is manifest through the love shown to us by others. We can also feel God’s love by loving others: cheering up a neighbor, mentoring a child, being a shoulder to lean on.
Hope is having connections to sustain us when things get rough.
Life can be hard. But when we have a trusted friend or family member, it’s much easier to see to the other side of adversity. And that is hope— knowing that God is still there, that things will be alright, that we can rise and become stronger. A good habit is to remind yourself each morning: “God loves me. My family loves me. I will help someone feel loved today.” Then connect, every day, with someone you love. Send a text. Make a phone call. Leave a note. Say a prayer. Express gratitude. This is hope in action! And it’s infectious.
Hope turns to faith when we turn to God.
The love we feel for family and friends is just a glimpse of the love God feels for us. When we forgive or seek forgiveness, we are participating in divinity, and divinity becomes part of our behavior. As we face uncertainty with hope, we learn to find joy in simple things, and we discover the strength to keep going. When we thank God for the strength we have been given and the lessons we have learned, our hope grows into faith.
Hope and faith lead to deeper connections.
What matters most is the relationships we have with family and friends, and with God. As these connections deepen, we make better decisions in our careers and in our everyday lives. We find ourselves focused on meaningful things that bring us joy.
It all begins with hope. Some ideas to practice being hopeful:
- Make room for quiet time every day, and meditate on the good things in your life. Try to be grateful.
- Believe that God knows you and really does care about how you live your life.
- Know that you have a purpose. Pray to understand it and to seek it out.
- Live true to your principles. Don’t do anything you wouldn’t share with your closest family member or friend.
- Express your love. Send a text, an email, or a letter to someone who has made a difference in your life. Do it often.
- When things are hard, remember: “This too shall pass.”
- Forgive. Be quick about it, and complete. Then let it go.
