Being hopeful activates very helpful behaviors: people with high hope pursue their wishes with more determination, energy, flexibility & confidence. And the good news is that it is a quality that can be learnt, not something that some “lucky” people are born with. According to the American Psychologist R.C. Snyder, hope is a thinking process, with 3 elements that can be developed: (1) Goal-setting skills, (2) Imagining alternative ways to a goal & (3) Mental commitment to the goal.

If you ‘d like to feel hopeful more often, follow this roadmap: Set a deadline to a wish of yours – Break it into steps – Visualize your way forward, including potential roadblocks – Brainstorm alternative routes & people who can help – Gather “lessons learnt” on the way – Alter the goal if necessary – Notice & rephrase your negative self-talk.