By Lauren Bryant
“Dum spiro spero.” While I breathe, I hope. Hope is a strange and wholly human feeling. So many stories of human endurance and preservation begin with a character who dares to hope for a better outcome. Hope is defined as a feeling of expectation for something to happen. There’s a path in hope, a path that lets us see where we want to go, and through that hope we can find an antidote to hopelessness.
American psychologist Charles Snyder coined the term “hope theory” to describe how positive psychology can help people heal. His model is action-based, and breaks hope into three parts. Goals- whether big or small, imagine a goal that you can reach. Agency (willpower)– believe that you can achieve your goal and don’t despair. Pathways- plan the way you can reach your goal and don’t let roadblocks stop you, plan how to detour!
Practicing hope as a mental health strategy works! The American Psychological Association published a 2006 study in which researchers found that after just 8 weeks, participants reported more life-meaning and self-esteem and fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety. Another study published in 2020 by Global Epidemiology found people who practiced high hope thinking had better physical health, reduced risk of all-cause mortality, fewer chronic illnesses, lower risk of cancer, and fewer sleep problems. Hope isn’t a magic cure, but the research is conclusive: it is beneficial for both your mind and your body.
Spero is a mental health clinic that understands how important a role hope plays in the treatment of your mental health. At Spero, we aim to help everyone who walks through the doors leave with more hope for tomorrow. To the drowning, hope isn’t escape from the water, it’s a life vest to keep you afloat while you move towards the shore. Spero understands that and we’re here to get in and tread water with you. Sometimes that’s all it takes.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or substance abuse, reach out to Spero for assistance at 800-722-0590. Our team can help guide you through the services available in the community to meet your individual needs.
