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Holding hope

cathyedencoaching



Here we are in January. The festive break is over and the weather is cold and dreary.


It’s the perfect time to cultivate hope for better days to come, hope for change, and hope for growth.


Hope gives us something to look forward to. It’s a spark of light in the darkness that we can kindle and keep burning while we wait for better days to come.


Hope isn’t about an unrealistic sense of optimism. It’s about knowing that things can improve and that we can take action to create the change we need.


When we face challenges, it can be easy to feel cynical, overwhelmed and hopeless. Hope can give us strength and resilience to persevere through difficulty.


This isn’t about being forcing ourselves to be relentlessly cheerful in the face of tough times but if we’re able to maintain a sense of hope, we’re more likely to be able to cope with these challenges and find a way to overcome them.


Hope can also help us to connect with others. When we feel hopeful, we’re more likely to be open and compassionate towards others. This connection can help us to build stronger relationships, which can provide us with support and encouragement during difficult times.


So how can you cultivate hope to help get you through this month?


Check your sources

When you're feeling low, it can be helpful to check in on how you're viewing the world.


Ask yourself "What am I focussing on? What information am I consuming and sharing (through conversations, news, social media etc)?"


You might like to try to switch your focus from time to time onto some of the beneficial things that are happening in your life and the world around you.


If you do switch focus, what difference does it make to your feelings of hope?


Make plans

Can you put in place some plans to work towards and look forward to in the coming months?


This could be something simple like a day out or a meet-up with friends, or something major like a new career to work towards.


Having something to look forward to can give you a sense of purpose and motivation, and can help you to feel more positive about the future.


Reflect on what's good

Take some time to reflect on what's good each day. It might be something you’ve done, a meal you cooked, something you saw or heard. You might also reflect more broadly on what you appreciate in your life.


Set some goals

Talk to your coach about setting some some goals for yourself. Regardless of whether the goals are big or small, having something to work towards brings hope as you commit to doing more of the things that are within your personal control.


Acts of kindness

Acts of kindness can help you feel a sense of hope. Hold a door open for someone, volunteer, help a neighbour, do something nice for someone. Hope springs from connection.


Create your personal cheer squad

Finally, try to spend time with people who have a hopeful outlook and who support and encourage you with empathy and compassion, even when you’re feeling down.


Tell people you appreciate them and assemble your personal cheer squad so that you can uplift each other when you need some extra care.


Practising hope can be a powerful tool for getting through January and beyond. By focusing on what’s good and holding on to a sense of hope, we can make it through even the most challenging times.


If you'd like some support to find greater hope throughout the year, let’s talk about it together.


I warmly invite you to book a free 30-minute introductory call. You can click here to book an appointment.

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