Wellbeing News
You can always find hope
Lately I’ve been considering the value in limiting news consumption. In today's political, social, and economic climate, it is easy to feel a sense of despair about working towards a positive future.
In this newsletter column, I’d like to share ten ways to feel more hopeful. Whether you're experiencing a personal crisis, mental health issues, study stress, or just looking at the world and worrying about what might come next, there is always hope if you know where to find it.
Set meaningful goals: Having something to strive for can give you a sense of purpose and direction. Try setting a specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-based (SMART) goal for the short-term (<3 months), mid-term (3-6 months), and long-term (>6 months).
Practice gratitude: Regularly acknowledging the good things in your life can shift your focus from what's lacking to what's abundant. It could be as simple as writing something you're grateful for daily or showing gratitude to people around you with acts of kindness and a genuine "thank you."
Connect with supportive people: I often discuss the immeasurable value of community. Surround yourself with positive, encouraging individuals who uplift you, and be a part of the solution yourself by spreading love, not hate.
Engage in activities you enjoy: Doing things that make you happy can boost your mood and outlook. Sometimes, your hopelessness might come from a lack of joy. Doing what you love can help you remember what's worth fighting for.
Stay present: Mindfulness practices can help you stay grounded and reduce anxiety about the future. It could be as simple as a few deep breaths when upset or as dedicated as a consistent meditation practice.
Exercise: Moving your body, going for a walk, joining a yoga class, or just being in nature are all phenomenal for your mental health and mindset.
Challenge negative thoughts: Replace self-sabotaging thoughts with empowering ones. It's easier said than done, but do your best to interrupt destructive thought patterns with hopeful ones.
Look for silver linings: Try to find something positive in every situation, no matter how small. Like gratitude practices, this can help you see hope even in the hard times. As I love to say, the light shines brightest in the dark.
Help others: Acts of kindness can increase one's own sense of well-being and hope. They also foster a stronger community, and we know from number three just how important that is.
- Limit harmful media consumption: This is the big one. A sense of hopelessness often comes simply from an excess exposure to bad news. Bad news sells, and media companies are for-profit businesses. Remember that for every bad story, there are countless good ones. Try to remove mainstream news from your life and, even better, replace it with good news sources.
If you or your child would like to have a conversation with the JMSS SChool Counsellors (George & Angelique) you are welcome to contact us directly at george.vlamakis@jmss.vic.edu.au or angelique.vardis@jmss.vic.edu.au
Wishing you all a terrific term break.
~ George Vlamakis (Student Wellbeing Coordinator)
george.vlamakis@jmss.vic.edu.au