How Can I Stay Hopeful?
During these difficult and uncertain times it can be easy to begin to feel overwhelmed. It can also be hard to remain optimistic and hopeful about the future. The current global pandemic has also added additional pressures to a number of people, making life feel extra challenging. Whether it is a relationship that already had cracks, a difficult work place, or a tough family dynamic - it can feel like challenges that you were once managing now have been pushed into a space you no longer feel like you can handle. Having hope for the future, or in your own abilities to manage adversity, can be a powerful support mechanism to maintaining good mental health. Hope helps us to feel ready to face the day and look to the future. Hope can also help you to feel more optimistic about facing challenges but also setting goals for yourself.
The question is though…how do I remain hopeful in these challenging times?
At Piece by Piece Therapies in Camberwell we want to support people to feel positive about their futures. One of our main goals in each session is for the client to leave feeling hopeful for what’s to come and that they will soon feel better. Below are a few ideas that might help you to begin to feel more hopeful.
Start a Proud Journal - similar to a gratitude journal, a proud journal is a way to keep track of parts of your day, or things that you have done, that you feel proud of yourself for. A proud journal helps your to feel more empowered by your own actions and highlights your strengths. By writing down one thing you have down each day that you are proud of, either big or small, helps you to reflect positively on your day and feel confident for the next.
As part of keeping your Proud Journal you might also like to write down one thing you’re looking forward to tomorrow or this week. During times of increased stress it can feel like everything that is happening is negative and it can be especially challenging to see ‘the light at the end of the tunnel.’ Whether it is the restrictions we are facing or whether it is significant difficulties that we’re experiencing in our personal or professional lives, it can be hard to find any positives. Sitting down each night, in a calm and quiet space, and reflecting on something that you’re looking forward to tomorrow or within the week can help you to feel more hopeful and enthusiastic for the weeks ahead. Whether it is that nice sunny day in a couple of days time, or your treat takeout night, or the phone catch up you have booked in with your friend, small moments to look forward to can significantly help improve your mood and well being. It is important to remind yourself that even during these difficult times there are moments of joy and happiness too.
Similar to writing small moments you’re looking forward to, setting yourself some short and long term goals can be incredibly helpful to maintain hope. It’s important to be mindful not to make your goals too unrealistic and keep them achievable. It may that you want to visit the beach next month, or that you would like to learn to cook a new dish in the next few weeks. It could also be that you would like to learn a new skill, like knitting or retiling your kitchen backsplash. Your long term goal may be planning a short trip away or having your friends around for dinner or saving up for something special. By setting short and long term goals it can help us to feel empowered for the future and help us to feel more in control of our own destinies, instilling hope for what’s to come.
At Piece by Piece Therapies we want to support people to have hope for their futures and to feel empowered. If you or someone you love would benefit from additional support during these trying times, please feel free to reach out to Piece by Piece Therapies for skilled psychological support and to be matched to a Psychologist that best suit your needs.
Keep Well!