How to cultivate hope

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How to cultivate hope when you don't have any By Angela Haupt Editor, Health and Wellness It's a strange time to be talking about hope. A war is raging in the Middle East; last week, a gunman shot 18 people to death in Maine. What is there to be hopeful about? Yet researchers who study the science of hope say it's more essential than ever. Hope is a way of thinking, not an emotion, they clarify, and it can be taught to anyone. "It’s not something you either have or don’t have," one expert told me. There are numerous reasons to fill your hope tank: People with more hope throughout their lives have fewer chronic health problems; are less likely to be depressed or anxious; have stronger social support; and tend to live longer. Here are three research-backed ways to start nurturing hope: Set meaningful goals. People with high levels of hope tend to always be working toward at least one goal—not something they have to do, like completing household chores, but something they want to do. Brainstorm solutions. If you set a goal but have no way of achieving it, you'll probably feel pretty hopeless. Sit down with a pen and paper and give yourself an hour to come up with potential solutions—so if one doesn't work out, you have plenty of backups. Tap into your imagination. Imagination is “the instrument of hope," one researcher told me. Spend a few minutes reflecting on or talking about what would happen if you achieved your goal. The capacity to see yourself in the future is, after all, the very essence of hope. READ MORE Share This Story

What Else to Read Column: Why We Love to Talk About Demons By Ed Simon 'Whether we're done with demons or not, the idea of them clearly isn't done with us,' writes Ed Simon. Read More » Do You Still Have to Isolate if You Catch COVID-19? Here’s What to Know By Jamie Ducharme What to know about the CDC's isolation guidance in 2023. Read More » 8 Ways to Read More Books—And Why You Should By Angela Haupt Start small, track your books, experiment with different formats, and seek out community. Read More » Why Older People Love Pickleball So Much By Holly Burns The sport is a low-impact way to get moving, plus an avenue to socialization. Read More » Stop Spending Money to Avoid Uncomfortable Emotions By Jenn Lim Happiness expert Jenn Lim on why we misunderstand the relationship between spending money on ourselves and our emotional wellbeing. Read More »

ONE LAST READ Surgeons are learning a complicated technique via social media A risky technique for hernia surgery called component separation has become widely embraced by surgeons, even though it’s not always medically necessary, Sarah Kliff and Katie Thomas write in the New York Times. It can lead to complications including patient disfigurement—and, alarmingly, some doctors are teaching themselves the procedure by watching social media videos. Read More »

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