Fostering Hope in Family Conversations

Hope: a word people tend to use so much in everyday life. “I hope I get this job”, “We hope to move by the end of this year”, “I hope I don’t miss the bus this morning”. It’s such a small word that conveys information, but also performs mental action that can improve mental health.

Why Hope is Important

Hope has been linked with adaptive functioning, or how people handle tasks and goals. The idea is that hope isn’t just an emotion or passive feeling, but an active cognitive process. We discuss what this looks like more in depth in our blog on building hope.

Hope is a necessary mental attribute that helps us achieve goals and encourages good mental health.

Hope as Individuals

As individuals, this makes sense. Hope builds personal mental health and willpower. If you experience hope, you are better equipped to handle adversity. It lowers stress, reduces anxiety, and improves overall psychological well-being

Sometimes, hope can be hard, and can die out without bonds to others, to family.

Hope as Family

Hope can become relational, and reflective, when looked at in a family unit. Hope still acts as a protective shield against stress, and it additionally helps build strong bonds and motivates members to work through hard times together. It gives parents, children, and aging adults the energy and focus to look past current struggles and build a better future.

Conversations that Nurture Hope

There are ways to help build and tend to hope within the family unit. Fostering hope relies heavily on the idea that hope is not delusional, it isn’t denial. It doesn’t ignore the real-life challenges. Instead, it recognizes hard things and builds a path through them. Hope implies the possibility of a better future, and here’s how you can talk about that with children or aging adults in your family.

Conversations with Children

Acknowledge Challenges and Emotions

Acknowledge the challenges children are experiencing and give them space to have and feel their emotions. Helping them accept their feelings and that things are hard helps clear out all of the shame or helplessness that can come with challenges.

Celebrate Small Achievements

Encouraging them to set or recognize when they set small goals, then celebrating when they are achieved, is an excellent way to instill in children the belief that good things can happen. This belief is the cornerstone of hope.

Include Children in Mindfulness Activities

Having children participate in problem-solving activities and games, or things like gratitude exercises provides them with skills to overcome problems and think positively about their experiences.

Conversations with Aging Adults

Nurture a Sense of Purpose

Let them know they matter and belong. Share family stories, encourage them to volunteer if they are able. Give them the opportunity to mentor someone younger, or have them write.

Look Forward

Plan small and happy events for the coming weeks. Talk to them about the future, even if it’s the immediate future.

Challenge Negative Stereotypes About Aging

When you speak, make sure to stay away from the stereotypes that ageing means declining, that it might be too late to try new things or grow. Challenging these thoughts helps aging adults stay hopeful.

Acknowledge Challenges and Emotions

As always, give them a safe space to feel sad, or tired, or talk about their challenges.

Remember

Hope takes time but can grow stronger with the help of family. With hope comes a sense of trust, the feeling of being cared for and caring for others. Remember that this exists because you are connected to the world and to life.