Use hope language Avoid “ ain ’ t it awful ” conversations that leave you feeling hopeless . Use language that implies a future .
“ When I get through this —” or “ I haven ’ t mastered that yet —.”
Hope mentors Who modelled hope for you ? It may be Grandma , Terry Fox , a student you taught , a colleague you admire , or a character in a novel . What about them inspires you ? How might you imitate them ?
Prepare a hope kit In a container no larger than a shoe box , put in items that trigger your hope . They may be real or metaphorical . For example , you may put in a huge eraser to erase your mistakes , or a special candle to “ light up your life .”
Associate with hopeful people
You know who they are . They are the ones saying , “ why not ?” rather than “ no , tried that once .” Actually talk to each other about what is hopeful .
Hope rituals For memorable events in our life , we have one-time rituals . To renew our hope , we use recurring rituals . For someone faith based , it may be a daily devotion . For those inclined to fresh air and fitness , it may mean a morning run . For another , it may be journaling regularly .
Have a vision for yourself
Write a statement about the future in which you would like to participate . Don ’ t worry about setting goals that seem out of reach . It was Robert Browning who said , “ Ah , but a man ’ s reach should exceed his grasp or what ’ s heaven for ."
Do a hope collage
Ask yourself , “ What gives me hope ?” Gather your own or magazine photographs and create a visual representation of hope .
Use your senses What sounds or music give you hope ? What smells trigger memories of hope ? What textures are soothing ? What foods are associated with good feelings ? What images do you associate with hope ?
Practise , practise , practise
What will you adopt as your practice of hope ?
Ronna Jevne , ARTA member , professor emeritus of psychology ( University of Alberta ), writer , photographer , presenter , pilgrim .
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