How to Increase Your Hope

Hope can be hard to come by in a world filled with so much heartache and toil. Whether you are dealing with everyday struggles or longer-lasting issues like trauma, a difficult relationship, or anxiety, you can find hope during it. Even though it is hard, the Bible tells us that God’s plans for you include hope, even in hard places. Read on to learn how to increase your hope.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11, NIV

Some ways to increase your hope

You can discover hope as you walk through hard things by incorporating some new ways of thinking. Cultivate more hope in your life by making these small changes.

Set and achieve goals.

Before you dismiss this tip, it is important to know that these don’t have to be big goals. Big goals can sometimes lead to more despair. Instead, focus on micro-goals, small goals that are easier to achieve. When you add these up, you make progress.

Some examples of micro goals are:

• Send three emails in the next 15 minutes.
• Make lunch between 12:00 p.m. and 12:30 p.m.
• Empty the dishwasher before bed.

These are small, measurable goals that you can achieve. As you do, these will add up to create momentum that brings hope.

Spend time with positive people.

You can develop a more optimistic approach to life when you are around positive people. The people you spend time with affect you and your thinking. Choose to be around people that are positive so that it rubs off on you.

This doesn’t mean things aren’t hard. Positive people choose to look at the good things even as they navigate challenges. You can, too.

Focus on the present.

Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. – Matthew 6:34, NIV

Looking back can keep you trapped in old problems and old ways of thinking. Looking forward can lead to anxiety and worry about what’s to come. When you focus on the present you can handle things as you encounter them.

Discover confidence.

We all have times when we don’t feel confident. Instead of allowing that to rule your thinking, you can begin to develop confidence in who you are and your unique abilities. Spend time exploring who you are and what God says about you. This will help you become more confident and live with a more hopeful outlook.

Choose to be positive.

You have likely heard that every cloud has a silver lining. That provides little comfort when you are stuck in a storm. But you can train yourself to look for that silver lining.

Choosing to look beyond the circumstances is a good way to shift your emotional response. You can go from focusing on the storm to recognizing the hope that lies in the silver lining.

Is hope possible?

Remember, you don’t need to create a false hope with which to live. This isn’t about pretending things are fine when they are not. Hope that comes from God is about finding hope as you walk through the ups and downs of life.

If you aren’t sure how to increase your hope or want help to develop these skills, a counselor can help. A Christian counselor in our office can help you discover hope no matter what you are experiencing. Call or email us today to discover more. This tiny step is your first step toward hope.