There are moments in life when it is difficult to find hope. Such situations demand everything from us, and it can be difficult to still believe in what is good. Perhaps you have had a bad stroke of fate, made a wrong decision or a big mistake. Hope runs dry. The post today will take us though some steps to find and achieve greater happiness in the midst all the chaos.

When life is tough, try to stay positive, keep your head high such you do not miss any magical or lightbulb moment when your thoughts give way to new ideas. These new thoughts will speak to you and give you the feeling: everything will be all right again. This feeling right here is that of ‘hope’.

Why we need hope

If you look at the current global research state, one thing quickly becomes clear: Hope and confidence makes you happier!

But not only that: they have a significant impact on how we are doing.

This is shown by a study from the University Hamburg-Eppendorf, in which people with pain were treated.

This study concludes:

Painkillers are twice as powerful when patients know what they are taking.

And it goes further: patients that were told that they would no longer receive painkillers, and were discreetly given, reported to be in much pain as if they had not received any medication.

So, the psyche has a decisive influence on our feelings.

“If patients are encouraged and have hope, then they can more easily adapt to their illnesses.”

Faith moves mountains

I experienced a similar story first-hand to reflect on the power of faith and confidence: A very good friend of mine did a parachute jump.

However, he landed awkwardly and break his leg in six different places.

He was operated upon immediately, and the doctors told him that he would likely never walk again.

He took what the doctors said with a ‘pinch of salt’ and knowing who my friend is, he will be challenging himself against that decision. He did not want to believe what the doctors told him, and from that moment on, he did everything he could to recover.

Right from the start and a few weeks after his operation, he stood on the treadmill with severe pain to rebuild the necessary muscles as quickly as possible.

He firmly believed in it, did everything for it, and today he can run and do sports again as if nothing ever happened to him.

Can you learn to be more hopeful and confident?

The simple and clear answer is yes!

It is possible to influence one’s thinking and to choose where to direct one’s thoughts.

Focusing on the negative is only a learned behaviour and you can also learn to focus on positive outcomes from all our daily situations and interactions with others.

The main key here is down to the choice and a matter of practice. So, without further ado, lets get to the 6 steps/techniques to enable us to find and achieve greater happiness, and be more hopeful and confident in life.

– Help

Random acts of kindness are enough. For example, you can offer your help to someone at work or support someone with something.

– Interaction

The exchange and interaction with other people contribute to our wellbeing. Be there for others. Find people who share your interests.

– Play

Practice a hobby that you enjoy or do a playful sport.

– Learn

Do new things. Always learn, be curious, and just try things out.

– Spirituality

This includes activities like yoga, prayer, and meditation.

– Work out

Knowing that sports is good for the psyche is nothing new. Do exercise regularly and get more confident in your life.

Read: How to manage stress levels during a pandemic

All these points will help you to live more happily overall and thus also increase your hope and confidence.

You must draw attention to all these activities as often as possible. Concentrate on the moment and enjoy the positive feelings that arise.

Think of successes from your past

If you find yourself in a situation in which you are in doubt or fear, then think of a situation in the past in which you were so afraid but realised in the end it was actually okay and there was no reason to be scared.

For example, if you have a doctor’s appointment and are afraid of the examination, remember a similar situation where nothing happened. In which case your previous fear has not been confirmed.

Recommended: Some tips to help you face your fears

You can do this in many situations in which you are unsure. Always think about moments in your life that ended well. In this way, you help your thoughts to think in the right direction and to gain clarity and confidence.

Write down possible positive results

If you have doubts or are unsure, then consciously focus on a positive outcome of the event. The best way to do this is to write it down.

Write down all the positive things that will happen in as much detail as possible. Just look at positive results and write them down.

You will notice how your thinking then focuses on it, and you can draw new strength and hope from it.

Look for role models

Have you ever talked to someone who was so inspiring to you? Isn’t it a great feeling to listen to someone who is optimistic and has already achieved some things in life or something that you would also like to achieve? You should bring this positive feeling into your life as often as possible.

Look for role models and talk to them! Ask them questions and let yourself to be inspired.

With a little patience, it will be easier and more comfortable for you to take something positive from that encounter and to hopefully live confidently in the long term.

Hope this post on the steps to find and achieve greater happiness was useful to you. Please use the comments section and would love to know your thoughts too.

Thanks for reading, stay safe and hopeful and see you in the next post x