"Help me feel more hopeful"

Hopefulness does everything from boost our immune system to increase our success. Here, simple ways to tap this powerful emotion

-  KRISTINA MASTROCOLA

Set hope goals

Focus on pathways

What makes hope so powerful? It’s connected to our values, says psychologist Anthony Scioli, Ph.D. Indeed, rather than wishful thinking, hope is pathway thinking—the ability to set goals, adds researcher Chan Hellman, Ph.D. “Ask yourself if you want to set a goal in a specific area of your life, be it professional or personal. When we’re overwhelmed by bigger problems in society, it’s important to focus on what we can control.”

Know the 4 pillars

To remember the critical elements of hope, just think MASS (Mastery, Attachment, Survival and Spirituality). “We need all four for hopefulness,” says Scioli.