12 Ways to Find Hope & Build Motivation during COVID-19

You may be looking back wondering what you were doing this time last year only to feel despondent that it was still what you are doing this year—trying to cope with the pandemic as best you can. When the pandemic reared its ugly head, the ground shifted out from under you affecting every area of your life. You have been doing the best you can to take care of your family, manage complexities of work without a break room, zooming into the tapestry of cyber world just to stay connected with relatives, or possibly grieving the loss of friends or family members with little support. You adjusted as best you could feeling like you were in a vacuum inside while outside there were pressures of political and social unrest. Tensions could be felt in your neck and with others—some whom you thought you really knew, but now feel bolded over with disappointment. And while a vaccination heralds in the news, futility sets in not knowing how long it will be until you get your phase in line.

This time of year you may typically be planning—planning for a vacation, summer camps for children, family reunions, and weddings. Planning for the future gives us hope for the future. Having something to look forward to motivates us to keep moving forward. But you stop short of writing checks for the deposits and pause thinking,

“What’s the use? Why have hope?”

Within the seed of planning exists the promise of hope. Within hope there is creativity, Within creativity there is the awe of life. It’s the very same awe that rolled out a huge belly laugh as a kid when you cracked up over simple “stupid stuff.” It’s the pleasant awe of surprise when you made a “mistake” cooking the family recipe only to find a new ingredient that made the Italian sauce tastier. It’s the simple beauty of a majestic sunset over the ocean remembered from five years ago you hope to find each time you return.

“Okay. So how do I find my hope?”

Hope can be found being present in the awe of life. It invites you to create a subtle change by moving it forward with life. It is discovered as the sunflower’s first leaf stretches out of your starter seeds, the excitement from the splash of a newly mixed color on the canvas, the new connection with an old friend, and teaching your puppy to perform her first trick. There it is. There is hope. It’s found in the simple moment of life ready for you to make a wish on it for more to come.

“How do I grow my hope?”

Discovering what gives life to you becomes the fertile seed of awe in the soil for hope to grow. The good news is that it’s rarely something expensive or requires you to take a week off from work. Consider these questions to catapult hope with a spark, flick, flash or a dash:

1. What comforts you?

Can you make a basket of items under $15 that rejuvenates you in a pinch? Fill it with lotions, herbal teas, samples of chocolate (the good kind…), cozy socks, mints, aromatherapy candles, and a magazine. Is it a bath with a warm towel from the dryer that calms you? A vegetarian hearty dish?

2. What brings you joy—not happiness that depends on what happens, but pure joy?

Blowing bubbles laughing with your those in your bubble, watching birds gather around bird feed, listening to children laugh while playing outside, or looking at pictures of your family fireside?

3. How do you manifest creativity?

Creativity is the essence of engaging you in what is life-giving. Seeing something come alive from your hands or mind is like a projector screen of the soul—what was once a blank canvas, lump of clay or barren ground magically turns into a painting, vase, or garden all because of you and your creativity. Drawing, sewing, cooking, flower arranging, or writing a poem or short story may strike you with your own awe.

4. How do you honor yourself?

Do you take in your awe? When was the last time you acknowledged all you did in a day? A week? This last year? Include the small stuff and the big stuff of wonder! Write yourself a letter of congratulations and mail it to yourself.

5. What restores your calm?

Relaxing with a bubble bath, hiking on a trail by a creek, taking up a new hobby or taking the old one off of the shelf, or having a private moment in the shower with the warm water on your shoulders before everyone awakes may be all you need to create a shift of awe-hah.

6. How do you replenish your body?

Hydrating with a cold glass of spearmint and lemon water, taking multi-vitamins, moving with gentle stretches, taking brisk walks, or massaging your scalp after you apply hair conditioner?

7. What brings you relief?

Talking to a friend or counselor, letting go of an old hurt that’s weighing you down with a release ritual, asking for help, or accepting the situation you have been resisting?

8. How do you manifest hope?

Collage a vision board, take big goals for what you want to do after the pandemic and put in place mini-modified steps within reach to work towards them now, or make a list of possibilities of incredible dreams? Go ahead. Reach for your stars.

9. How do you use your resilience to take on bigger goals or challenges as you say “I did______so I can ______?”

Can you map out a move to a new area by yourself because you moved in the middle of high school? Travel by yourself internationally because you did it while in college?

10. In the Bible the words “confident hope” are repeated with the synonymous meaning of the word “faith.” If we examine the word “confidence” it means con=with & fidence=trust. Is there a spiritual belief that keeps you grounded and reassured with hope with God or a higher Being you trust? Have you experienced awe in your spiritual practice or in life when you least expected it? Do you enjoy sentimental rituals for worshiping? Is there a daily prayer book by your nightstand? Do you have a day/time of the week to center yourself in peace? Do you find comfort in prayer?

11. What helps you stay present to the moment?

Breath work, doing yoga, practicing mindfulness, falling asleep easily in the midst of yoga Nedra, watching the sunrise with your grandmother’s China cup filled with warm lavender and vanilla tea cupped in your hands, honoring the seasons with their dependable and reliable constants during change—winter's fresh snowfall on a hillside, fall’s leaves as they get painted almost overnight, summer’s dew grass between your toes in the morning and fireflies at night, and spring’s burst of bouquets rising after crisp rain showers.

12. What kindness do you offer your world?

Offering a kind act to another you would like to receive embraces an awe of hope. Paint a stone of hope and leave it on a park bench for another and walk off only to look back to see someone find it. Compliment a friend on her efforts with a note. Pick up trash on a hike. Walk your neighbor’s dog because she had to take the extra shift at the hospital working in the ICU during the pandemic.

If you feel like therapy would be helpful in regaining motivation and hope, please feel free to contact me at 610.329.1684 for your free 15-minute consultation.