Feeling Hopeless? Borrow Hope From Hopeful People

Hope: Definition

According to the dictionary, hope is an optimistic state of a person's mind. It is an emotion based on the expectation of positive results. Hope is both a noun and a verb.

• As a noun, hope is the thing that you expect to happen.
• As a verb, hope is what you do while you are anticipating something to happen.

Hope is akin to faith, confidence, and wish. A few opposites of hope include despair, hopelessness, and doubt.

Hope is a recurring theme in most religions. It is often one of a trilogy: love, faith, and hope. Hope refers to a strong and confident expectation of future rewards.

There are many ways to experience what doctors, psychiatrists, and mental health counselors recommend to people so they can have hope in their lives.

More and more people are losing hope these days when so many bad things are happening in the world. Those people are looking for simple guidelines and tips to help them.

An article in the November 5, 2018 issue of Woman's World magazine gives three ways that anybody can use to have hope. After using one or all three of the ways listed below, you might not even need other ways.

1. Borrow Hope from Hopeful People

It is very interesting and easy to borrow hope from others. Dr. Shane J. Lopez is the author of the book Making Hope Happen: Create the Future You Want for Yourself and Others. He says people can borrow hope from hopeful people. The author explains that hope is contagious.

When a person lacks hope, he can quickly become hopeful by being around people who are hopeful. The worst thing a person without hope can do is to be around other unhopeful people.

Dr. Lopez shares simple guidelines for a person to not only have hope for himself, but how he himself can become contagious with so much hope that people can borrow hope from him, and he will still have enough left.

The author of the book contends that hope is not just an emotion. Instead, hope is an essential life tool that is important in order for people to have successful careers, relationships, and other good things in their lives.

2. Reframe Your Thoughts

Hope in your life depends much on the thoughts that you have. Romans 12:2 says, “Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Therefore, if you want more hope in your life, then you have to change your mind about certain things. In other words, you should reframe your thought in order to get a different picture of your life. One way to do that is to stop saying you are hopeless. Begin to use positive words about your feelings and your situation.

Ohio State University did a recent study about hope. The results showed that participants who felt dissatisfied with their lives experienced less anxiety and sadness after they began to set specific goals and focus on achieving them.

Once a person reframes his thoughts, a sense of purpose is created that lowers the stress hormone cortisol. Envisioning the end that you desire very often results in hope.

3. Let Laughter Give Hope

It might be hard to believe, but laughter can be a way of providing hope for the hopeless. Many people have found hope in laughter. Studies have shown that laughter decreases stress and increases health and hope.

Laughter really is the best medicine. Therefore, laugh your way to more hope in your life. Try not to go a single day without laughing.

Other Ways

There are other proven ways for people to experience hopeful times. If you know other ways to become hopeful, please share your tips in the comment section. Your method might help someone.

If you see that someone needs hope, share yours! Spread hope in any way you can! Remember, hope is contagious. So, be an instrument of hope in hopeless situations and to hopeless people.

Author's Note:

Survey: Have you ever experienced hopelessness?

• 97% YES
• 3% NO