Finding Hope

I've written before about seasonal affective disorder, in fact, it was around this time last year! You can read that post, or for some really practical advice you can check out my more recent post on increasing dopamine.

Today I want to talk about the opposite emotion to depression, which is hope. Feeling sad, feeling loss, these things can feel overwhelming if we have no hope.

Hope is the belief that something good is going to happen, not necessarily imminently, but one day. It's the desire with an expectation that things will get better.

There are several questions to ask yourself if you are feeling like there is nothing to look forward to in life. Firstly, what is it that I feel like I have lost? Why am I dissatisfied with where I am/what I have right now?

What voices/thoughts am I listening to? Are they good voices/thoughts? Are they from people who are sources of light and love? Or are you surrounding yourself with negative influences that you might need to take a break from?

If the negative influences you are listening to are your own thoughts, affirmations can help. Choose something positive that you are going to repeat (preferably aloud!) every time you catch yourself thinking something negative towards yourself. 'There is hope bringing light to my path" or "Good things are in store for me", or any other positive thought that fits in with your spiritual beliefs can be used to refute the lie that the future holds nothing for you.

Do you have to process some trauma? Or are you ready to move forward?

If you do have some trauma to process, I highly recommend some therapy, or healing prayer, to try and work through your trauma to try and get to a place where you are ready to move forward.

Aromatherapy can also help. Eucalyptus, Lemon, Lemongrass and Lime are all well known to lift the spirits and encourage feelings of hope. Try diffusing or placing in cupped hands and take a deep breath. Imagine a fresh wind blowing new life over you, cleansing away the old and filling you with hope for a new life and a brighter future.

Emotional aromatherapy is a fascinating subject, and if you're interested in learning more, follow Restoration Oils on Facebook where I'll be teaching on how Essential oils can affect your mood in my webinar on aromatherapy for intimacy on the 11th of February, just in time for Valentines day ;-)