Hope for tomorrow!

The ancients looked at this time of year as the beginning of a new cycle of growth and life. That’s a little hard for us moderns who are less attached to the natural cycles occurring around us. But even in our modern world where we surround ourselves with technology and insulate ourselves from adversity, it is important to take the time to reconnect with ourselves.

Ask yourself these questions: How do you see the world? Are you hopeful about the future in general? Are you hopeful about your future? In what do you take joy on a daily basis? Do you find yourself excited about the opportunities available to you or do you find yourself depressed at the frustrating state of your personal and professional development?

New research from Dr. Anthony Scioli, a professor of psychology at Keene State College in New Hampshire, has been looking very deeply into hope and the roll it plays in sustaining life. The current issue of Spirituality and Health magazine, thoughtfully sent to me by the publishers, dedicates much of their space to hope and how hope affects so much of a person’s life experience.

Hope, simply stated, is the key to good health. It is also the best predictor of a meaningful existence, however variously that is defined. Hope is an indicator of academic and athletic performance.

And, most importantly, hope is a skill you can acquire! You can cultivate it and nourish it. According to the article by Louise Palmer, hope is self-perpetuating. Hopeful people tend to be more resilient, more trusting, more open, and more motivated than those less hopeful. Hopeful people are more likely to receive more from the world- which then adds to their sense of hope!

What a beautiful cycle!

So, the question again is…Are you hopeful about the future?

Next post I’ll look a little more deeply into the different aspects of hope, as detailed by Dr. Sciloi (a little hint, there’s 14 of them). Later I’ll give you a few practices designed to help you raise your hopes as well as listing out for you some of the new King Bio Mind and Body remedies designed to promote a hopeful mindset (you can always go to the website and check them out for yourself…).

If you get the chance, check out Spirituality and Health magazine. Here is their website: www.spiritualityhealth.com. This is my first copy, and it is full of great information and questions designed to help you live a more connected life.

Be well everyone!