"In all things it is better to hope than to despair." ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

We live in a troubled world, where threats of war and disease are prevalent on every news channel and in every newspaper. Conversations at the water cooler are filled with negativity and gloominess and on the road, tempers flare. Depression and anxiety are at an all time high in both adults and children alike.

How did we reach such a state of melancholy and despair? When did we loose hope?

"Hope is the dream of a soul awake." ~ French Proverb

Luckily hope can never be lost, not really. The human condition has always been plagued by war and disease, and yet we always, every time, rise above it, the proof being that we are here today. Hope is what gives us the character and determination to see every difficulty through to the very end. But how do we regain hope when in our hearts we feel all is lost?

"Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark." ~ George Illes

Give hope to someone else. When we are feeling hopeless, the last thing we want to do is spread it around! Instead, when we need hope we need to give hope. Tell a co-worker that they are doing a great job or tell your children how smart and clever they are.

Change your thoughts. It’s hard to feel inspired when we are filled with thoughts of fear. So stop thinking about the things that scare you! Turn off the television, or else choose to only watch programming that makes you feel good. Stop reading the newspaper and only read books that inspire you and fill you with hope. Don’t worry about missing an important piece of news – if it’s that important some well-meaning family member or co-worker will be sure to tell you.

Smile. This may sound way too simple, but smiling actually releases hormones into our system that make us feel better. So even if you don’t feel like smiling, do it anyway. Before you know it you will find yourself feeling a little better.

Write a list of appreciations. When we are in a state of gratitude we are happier beings, so acknowledge all those things you are grateful for. My own list includes healthy children, a nice office, friendly and generous clientele, bottled water and Starbucks! If you are extra grumpy, it may be hard to find things to appreciate so you may have to think about what life would be like without running water and a flushing toilet to get the gratitude flowing.

"Hope never abandons you. You abandon it." ~ George Weinberg

We live in a troubled world, and probably always will. But we also live in a beautiful and compassionate, loving world. Hope is always there for us, inspiring us to move through our challenges and reach greater heights.