Returning to Hope

I am always awed at how much Facebook and Twitter reveal about the heart and spirit of those I follow. Their joys, hopes, struggles, and pain come through so powerfully.

It is so apparent how connected we all are. No one’s joy or suffering is theirs alone. They resonate and have an impact. So how do we return to joy when thrown by an unexpected change in health, in employment, in our relationships? When the suffering of others is resonating in the collective unconscious, how do we stay hopeful? Here are a few suggestions.

Start with expanding your understanding

One of the beautiful things about humans is our ability to create stories. We really understand and view the world through the stories we tell about it.  One trick to dealing with an inner story that causes pain is to retell the story.

If we believe something to be true, we search for evidence that will support that belief. It is like a filter on our eyes that only allow us to see that which supports our belief. It doesn’t matter how painful that belief may be, our ego does not want to be wrong.

But we can take off that filter. Begin by looking at the facts of the situation. Detach from the emotional reaction enough to see the experience with a “just the facts”, fully-honest clarity.

You may start off with a story of “My friend was an hour late. She obviously doesn’t value me or my time,” and realize the real story was, “My friend is such a loving, caring person that she helped her mother who needed her this morning. This made my friend a little late, but we had a great talk and laughed a lot.” 

Tell the stories of your life with an intention to find the good, see the lessons, see how it bettered you and/or someone else.  Sit down, take a pen, and retell the story of your life!

Surround yourself with Angels

I fully believe that there are people who are basically angels in our lives.

These friends and family members hold a vision of us based on unconditional love. They accept us. They support us. They keep faith in us when ours falters. They push us past our fear, show us we can succeed.

When you are having a hard time, fall upon the support of these angels. They will remind you of the truth of who you are. They will remind you that you are not alone in handling a problem. They will put it in perspective and help reduce the drama. And they’ll give you hugs when you need them!

Don’t hide when you hurt! Embrace the support of those who love you!

Remember to live beyond yourself

I believe it is important to be of service to others and to try to add joy to the life of other people and creatures on the planet. We are so blessed and nothing reminds us of that fact better than standing up for and aiding someone in need.

Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Work with an AIDS program. Become part of a program like Amnesty International or the Human Rights Coalition. Raise your voice for those who can’t stand up for themselves. If there is a cause that is important to your heart, become active! Be a part of creating change! It is awesome how small our problems seem when we are doing our part to help others.

And don’t forget how much doing little things to bring joy to the day of another can matter! Write letters of appreciation. Give someone a hug. Surprise someone with flowers. Compliment someone. Helping others find joy is a sure way to find it ourselves.

Attend to your health

Everyone knows that physical activity is a great stress reducer and produces chemicals that make us feel good.

So get outside, talk a walk or a run, and enjoy the beautiful Earth. Put in the yoga DVD and realign your energy and tone up! Sweating a little helps release all of that negativity. It gets you back into your body and focused on the now.

Eating well also makes a huge difference in how we feel. Try to keep things as healthy and balanced as budget and time will allow you.

Honor yourself by taking care of your body!

Allow yourself to get Goofy

Laughter truly is healing to the soul. Sometimes I just have to put on a silly song and sing at the top of my lungs and dance around my apartment. Or I’ll put a comedy DVD into my player and just lose myself in it for an hour or two.   I do whatever it takes to laugh again.

Embrace your inner child and play! Give yourself permission to not care about how you look and just be a goofball!  Just because you’re an adult doesn’t mean that  you shouldn’t play anymore. In fact, making time for joy is utterly vital to remind us of what we are working hard for.

I hope some of these resonate with you and will be useful for you. I’d love to hear from you what you do to find hope and happiness during hard times. Please share with me by leaving a comment.

Blessed be!