I take no credit for the words below, I simply share with you something I read recently which I really liked. It seems all authors are credited – phew – so no copyright breached. I have not read any of the books yet as only just found this so cannot comment, but food for thought and hopefully inspiration.

Hope boosts our happiness.

There is no doubt about it – hope has a feel-good quality.

Shane Lopez is the author of a book called 'Making Hope Happen' and he explains how hope buffers us from stress, anxiety and the impact of negative events in our life. To "look on the bright side of life" boosts our happiness, reduces feelings of helplessness and actually improves our mental health.

Hope prevents us from 'catastrophising'.

The opposite of hope is hopelessness and despair. Without hope there is fear. Hope may not always change the outcome but it can help us to cope with the journey – even enjoy it.

Author Marian Zimmer Bradley said, "The road that is built in hope is more pleasant to the traveller than the road built in despair, even though they both lead to the same destination.

Hope can help us heal.

It is well documented that feeling hopeful can have a positive physiological impact on us - the connection between the mind and the body is very real.

Jerome Groopman states how, "Researchers are learning that a change in mind-set has the power to alter neurochemistry." He believes hope can even ease our sense of pain: "Belief and expectation - the key elements of hope - can block pain by releasing the brain's endorphins and enkephalins, mimicking the effects of morphine," says Groopman.

Millie

A Moodscope member.