10 Practices To Cultivate Hope

We are entering a space between stories. A space where it is important to practice cultivating hope. Something hurts in there. Can you feel it? We are one earth, one tribe, one people, and we are all in this together.

We all go through times in life that challenge us and that require a deeper strength to get us through like those times when we can’t clearly see how or even if the path ahead will unfold. Sometimes the darkness is a personal situation and sometimes it is a global one.

Cultivate Hope In Personal Situations

There have been many times in my personal life situations when hope became a cornerstone for survival from growing up with a mother who was clinically depressed, having a miscarriage after seeing my child’s heartbeat, my daughter’s open-heart surgery, to being diagnosed with breast cancer. It was during these darkest times in my life that hope whispered, “This too shall pass. Something better is ahead.”

Cultivate Hope In World Situations

Normal is coming unhinged. Things are changing and we are not sure how they will. It is in these times that we must hold onto hope.

There have been times during my life when world situations gave rise to the need for a strong foundation of hope. I remember the day that President Reagan was shot, where I was, what I was doing, and the fear and feelings of uncertainty that it brought to my then teenage mind.

I remember everything about 911. The sheer terror and uncertainly that I and we all felt. Now, the world is feeling the anxiety of a worldwide pandemic.

We are as individuals, a nation, and a world entering into what feels like a time of great uncertainty. Normal is coming unhinged. Things are changing and we are not sure how they will. It would be easy to disconnect to this new normal that is still so unknown. To drop into unhealthy ways of coping.

The gift you can give yourself everyday is to move your body and practice mindful breathing into what is true and what is real – LOVE. We cannot control what is going on in the world around us, but we can control what is going on inside of us.

When we are tense we stay in our heads. When we are relaxed we move into our hearts. The place where hope lives.

It is in these times that we must hold onto hope.

Cultivate, Deepen, & Hang On To Hope

Hope is a foundation in all that we do and all that we are. Our degree of hope, or lack of hope, defines us. It influences everything we do, how we face our lives, and the decisions we make. Hope gives us what we need to take action, to take the next step toward the light.

How can we cultivate hope, deepen hope, and hang on to hope, especially when times get rough? There are things we can do to help ourselves. Here are ten practices that you can cultivate hope in your life:

Here are 10 practices to cultivate hope In your life:

Believe in something bigger than yourself.
Develop a mindfulness practice that includes a form of prayer or meditation.
Become mindful and aware of your thoughts. When negative thoughts arise, retrain your mind to think positive thoughts.
Read inspirational writings, quotes, poetry or from your chosen spiritual path.
Spend time doing what you love to do – what makes you smile.
Spend virtual time with people who make you smile.
Expect positive things to happen.
Look at how other positive people and role models in your life handle the situations of their life.
Keep a gratitude journal. Every day, write down at least one thing that you are thankful for. On darker days, get it out and read.
Know this too shall pass.

Without hope the light that eventually comes to erase the darkness of the latest trial from our lives can’t make its way to us. Without hope there is no opening for it to come forward. No crack for it to seep in.

It has been said that the most profound expressions of the human spirit are derived from hope.

Hope, it has been said, is faith holding out its hand in the dark.

The capacity to hold on to hope may indeed be one of the most important abilities we can poses.

Check out this post to find nine ways to cultivate positivity!

About the Author

Hope Knosher is the founder of Healthy Living With Hope and Hope’s Yoga. Based in Atlanta, Georgia she is a Certified E-RYT500 Yoga Teacher, Certified Health & Wellness Coach & Certified Yoga Therapist with the International Association of Yoga Therapists.

Hope and her work have been featured in numerous publications including Reader’s Choice “Best Of Atlanta” by Atlanta Magazine, one of Atlanta’s “Over 40 & Fabulous” by Best Self Atlanta, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for her work with cancer survivors, MindBodyGreen, Noteworthy, Mantra Yoga & Health and cover features with Northside Woman and Yoga Magazine.

Check out Hope’s weekly yoga classes open to everyone in Johns Creek Georgia. She also offers corporate yoga & meditation, wellness coaching and workshops. Hope is also a regular guest speaker on topics related to Yoga, Mindfulness, and Health & Wellness. Learn more about Hope.

Contact Hope here or subscribe to future posts here.