What do you need for hope to flourish?

There is hope but if you’re struggling to feel energised about the year ahead, what blocking your natural optimism and how can you make hope spring eternal?

According to Psychologies Magazine ten question quiz, my need to boost my optimism comes from the need for inspiration.

Its not surprising that you find it hard to feel hopeful about the year ahead if all it seems to hold is more of the same. Knowing in your heart of hearts that you’ve been coasting, or that your routine is well overdue a shake up, doesn’t always mean you’ll be any clearer about what changes to make.
You might put it down to a lack of motivation, but the reasons we stay in stuck mode are usually far more complex. For some, its about unravelling others’ expectations for ourselves from our own passions, or getting a perspective on a drive to do the ‘right thing’ and always be responsible. And sometimes the most productive thing to do is to do nothing. Give yourself permission to be in information- gathering mode, with no immediate pressure to come up with the answers; its amazing what we notice when we quiet a busy, planning mind and really pay attention to what’s going on around us.
There’s much to be learned by simply noticing what piques your interest, or what triggers moments of feeling energised. You might find yourself saying yes to things you normally say no to, or feeling drawn to new experiences – even small shifts can help you feel more inspired about the future.

As I’ve spent 2021 on a journey of self discovery, I’m still experiencing new feelings, motivations and desires. I have a better idea of the person I want to be and I have more confidence in making that happen. I’m doing more of what makes me happy and feel good.

I feel optimistic about the year ahead and my plans to move forward will come to fruition of I stick to my guns. I’m still information gathering as I experience new opportunities and look forward to where that may take me.

Happy new year, happy new me.

There is hope

All is not lost. So says Bernadette Russell in Psychologies Magazine. She even goes so far as to offer three ways of finding hope:

Set a goal – if you’re feeling overwhelmed and hopeless over a seemingly insurmountable problem, find a purpose can help by providing another focus. Think of something you’ve always wanted to do – doesn’t have to be big or cost any/much money. Could be something as simple as finishing that half-read book, running 5K, growing some herbs or a spot of DIY. Choose something that excites or interest you, something that you can look forward to doing.
Go story hunting – what’s interesting about where you live? Start with a building, a street or a name that intrigues you. Follow that lead and look into its history. Maybe you’re wondering who Tom Smith Close was names after, or why the local park was never built upon, or what that old place on the corner was originally built for. The way things look around us now has so often been shaped by local people stepping in and making things happen. It shows us positive change in living colour.
Find something to look forward to – if you have a difficult day, give yourself one thing to anticipate tomorrow, and thing about it before you go to sleep. It needs be much, a cup of tea, a catch-up with friends or a nice soak in the tub. Sometimes having even a small treat planned can deliver us through difficult days and give us hope~: “tomorrow will be better, I have this to look forward to”.

At this stage in the game, I am feeling rather hopeful and optimistic about the year ahead. I know we’ll still have things to contend with, things that from time to time will bring us down a bit, plans that don’t quite go as we’d hoped. However, I’m looking at it from an opportunity perspective. Everything that comes my way is an opportunity for me to grow, develop, evolve.

I chose not to let most things get me down. I get frustrated, annoyed, upset, sure, but it’s often short-lived, or I’ll talk myself round to thinking on a scale of 0-10 how important is it in my life. Anything less than a 7 and I’ll stop worrying about it soon enough.

I’m looking forward to putting some plans I have into action. I’m looking forward to being more confident and assertive with what I want in my life. I’m more optimistic about how I am going to respond to things and others.

I have a goal for 2022 and it revolves around improving relationships. That’s with anyone, family, friends, colleagues etc. In fact, I’ve already started putting some of it into action. Where I live has a rich history, being one of the first Roman settlements in England. Most people associate it with radio, but so much happened before that, it annoys me when people overlook that. Looking forward to small daily things is useful, for example, as I’m writing this, I’m looking forward to trying a new restaurant for brunch tomorrow.

The simple things in life can be so rewarding if we choose to look around us and find the positive. Hope is not lost.

Actions speak louder than words

Apparently this term was first coined in its current form by US President Abraham Lincoln during his Cooper Union Address in February 1860, but it may have been first voiced in the English Civil War by John Pym and recorded in Hansard in 1628 as “A word spoken in season is like an Apple of Gold set in Picture of Silver”, meaning that actions are more precious than words.

Today marked the first anniversary of the first UK lockdown of the Covid pandemic and organisations and people came together at 12noon to remember all of those who have died as a result of the virus, and to reflect on the tremendous work that the NHS and other front line services have done.

The Church of England partnered with Marie Curie to mark the first anniversary of the first lockdown in the UK with a national day of reflection to reflect on our collective loss due to Covid-19, support those who have been bereaved, and hope for a brighter future. Bellringers were invited by the Church to participate in this day by marking the end of the one minute silent reflection at 12 noon by tolling a bell.

At work, for the NHS, we had a virtual gathering that embraced the moment of silent reflection, and then words from our CEO and Chair. Later in the afternoon, I happened to be in the queue for a coffee and the CEO was in front of me. We exchanged smiles, and I said that I’d logged on and listened to the “broadcast”. She immediately described how they’d tried something new with the technology and that it hadn’t really worked how they’d wanted it to, so it wasn’t as slick as usual. I told her that that didn’t matter. What mattered is that we took a moment, and in a large acute NHS Trust, believe me that’s not easy, to stop, remember not just those patients we’ve lost, but also a number of colleagues and friends, to give thanks for the effort that the whole organisation has put in to help fight this virus. We were able to take a moment to think about others, and the impact that has had on ourselves, our friends and families, and our colleagues.

The action spoke louder than the words.