Tips for managing anxiety - Finding HOPE in the storm

“Kindness is the language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”
Mark Twain

In my last article I focused on the power of gratitude and how shifting your attitude to gratitude can have a huge impact on your everyday quality of life. I talked about how staying connected with friends and family and keeping active are both positive for your wellbeing and can be effective at improving motivation and reducing your levels of stress. Building on the theme of gratitude, I would like to concentrate on how you can hold on to hope in the midst of uncertain times.

I have heard many people say during the pandemic that we are all in the same boat but I don’t agree. We may be in the same storm but I believe we are in different boats depending on our circumstances. How you respond to the storm will help you to navigate through it.

Finding hope in the storm

If you find hope in the storm you are more likely to act in a way that promotes a more peaceful and joyful life. Hope is a source of energy and helps you to embrace the day, it motivates you to take action and allows you to live in the present instead of the past. It is the belief that there is the potential for something good to happen despite what the situation may look like on the surface and it means keeping a positive attitude, living each day to the fullest and never giving up. It is listening to your dreams more than your fears.

When hope is missing, life can seem drained of colour. Sometimes the challenges that you face may seem insurmountable, however it is important that you start to look upwards and outwards and take small steps forward. When you can’t see the way ahead, hope reminds you of the possibilities, it is the opposite to fear. It challenges your negative thoughts and it helps you to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Nurturing hope requires self-compassion and willpower. Sometimes, making hope part of your life isn’t easy, it involves hard work and a commitment to effectively manage your thoughts so that they don’t get the better of you. If you are feeling stuck and struggling to reignite the fire of hope, reach out to family and friends or if you prefer, seek some professional help to support you. It is important to share with someone with whom you feel safe. Many of us turn to prayer in difficult times, the bible is a source of hope and encouragement. (For example, Psalm 121 talks about looking up to God for help).

Making a routine and setting short term goals can help to restore hope. Plan for today, tomorrow and next week. If you have difficult tasks on your plate, try to break them down into small manageable ch`unks, if ever you are feeling overwhelmed, the first thing to do is to stop and then just think about your next step. You could possibly pin ideas of actions onto your fridge or bathroom cupboard.

Practice visualisation

People who worry a lot often imagine the worst case scenario, this affects how they feel and behave. Others however, especially elite sportsmen and women visualise achieving their goals. Visualisation gives you strength and it makes you resourceful to push through any obstacles ahead of you. The world number 1 tennis player Novak Djokovic says that when he faces complicated moments he has to look for solutions deep within himself and to see himself as a winner. He visualises the perfect shots and what it would feel like to lift up the winning trophy.

You could for example, visualise yourself at a meeting being calm and relaxed in what would normally be a high pressure situation. By practising visualisation you are likely to find that your stress levels start to drop and you feel more positive about the way ahead. Remember also to make time to celebrate when you do achieve your goals. This makes you feel so much better, if you move immediately on to your next task you are less likely to enjoy the moment and value your achievements.

You will naturally be more hopeful when you feel more confident in yourself and in your ability to overcome the problems you face. One of the best ways to grow your self-confidence is to write down your past successes, your strengths, skills and abilities and the resources you have on hand.

Hope is contagious

Look out and turn your focus to others who are facing challenges. Who can you think of that might value some support? This will bring hope into their lives and might also inspire hope within you and your situation. Hope is contagious, so being hopeful around others will have a ripple effect on their lives as well as yours. Kindness and compassion to other people and to ourselves are key to us getting through this year, try not to judge others for the decisions they feel are best for them. A little empathy and understanding goes a long way.