7 STEPS TO GROW YOUR HOPE

Hope. It’s a powerful ingredient in a healthy life, but what if you’re all out of it? What if you think you used up your last bit of hope for that boiling pot of traumathat’s been bubbling on your back burner for years? I’ve felt pretty hopeless at times in my life: - when my mom got so depressed when I was a kid because her sister and dad had both committed suicide within a couple years of each other, and I couldn’t do anything to make her happy… - when I discovered my ex-husband’s infidelities and looked at our tiny son, not knowing what to do next… - when I realized my vegan diet wasn’t healthy for me anymore, and I simply had to eat meat again, (which felt great) and then tell the world about it (which felt awful) Feeling hopeless is, well, just horrible. Like "nothing I do will ever be enough", like "my efforts don’t make any difference", and that (this is where my hopeless mind spirals always take me) "I’ll end up alone, dying, living under a bridge." Uninspired, alienated, forsaken, powerless, limited, oppressed, helpless. Yuck. I’ve been there, and I know you have, too - because it’s normal, human, and super common. AND, most of us get out of the hellish hole of hopelessness at some point. But there are times when you feel stuck + hopeless about one thing and struggle with it for years. It could be: your weight your relationship status your career trajectory or your purpose in this life... Whatever your situation is, positive psychology and years of coaching people through health and life challenges have shown me that there are measurable steps to growing hope. Why am I telling you about hope? People who are "highly hopeful" are healthier + do better in life: hope + optimism is correlated with less anxiety + less depression (read: less sugar + alcohol cravings) high hope is linked with physical well-being (read: more movement + joy) higher self esteem (read: better boundaries + higher confidence) hope is one of the best predictors of overcoming challenges (read: more likely to stick with health goals) 3 Powers you need to grow hope, even if you think it’s hopeless: What Power = define the hope (the desire, goal, change, thing or state of being that you crave) Willpower = action or personal agency (your belief in your ability and tenacity, your drive) Way Power = pathways to hope (possible routes to achieving/creating that thing, desire, goal) But how can you increase the what, will, and way to feel more hopeful? 7 STEPS TO GROW YOUR HOPE DO frame your hope in positive language (get clear on what you DO want, which is a stronger pull than the wimpy push of what you DON’T want) DO tell yourself you have chosen a good desire + it’s your job to follow through, don’t allow yourself to be thrown off by roadblocks and challenges (working with a coach like me is best for this - don’t do it alone + be left alone with your b*tch brain!) DO learn to talk to yourself in a positive voice (This is really the purpose of the Mindset Makeover skills in my Cravings Cleanse) DO look back at previous successes in life goals (remember that you’ve been through rough times in the past + list 3 ways you got out of them) DO be able to laugh at yourself (even when your mind says you're “failing” or get worried things will never change DO enjoy the process of getting to your goals (not just focusing on final attainment of them vs. constantly thinking about how you’re doing ie. weighing yourself ever day to evaluate if you’re “good enough") DO recognize that you already have hope in you NOW! (you’re here reading this, which tells me you’re actively looking for help + inspiration) Sometimes kicking hopelessness to the curb requires self-love, grit, humor, and a bit of seething anger. Well, in my experience, it always does. Every time I’ve reached the point where my lack of hope was just too freakin’ annoying and insufferable to bear, I’ve made a declaration, a decision, and took action. It wasn’t always the most graceful action, but in my experience, any action is better than sitting in that murky puddle of pity party tears I’d squeezed out. And so at last, sweet one, I want you to share what your hopes are - What are your hopes for the future? What excites you about this desire? Xo, P.S. And if this bit of writing inspired you, lit a fire inside you, or got you to smile just a little bit, maybe you’re ready to join my Cravings Cleanse + Mindset Makeover. We start 4/16 - and there is a phenomenal group of ladies just like you ready to get started…xo