Making Hope-Filled Plans When Everything Seems Hopeless
Just about everyone makes some sort of promise to themselves with the coming of a New Year: get in better shape, lose a few pounds, or maybe break a bad habit. Then…by February, most—if not all—of the plans and resolutions seem abandoned. Often, when we do not meet our goals, we let the “feelings of failing” get us down. It causes us to lose faith in ourselves, our bigger goals, and our vision for our life. After, 2020—a year of unmet plans due to a worldwide pandemic—it can almost seem scarier to make plans out of fear that there is no way they will be met. However, I want to encourage you not to give up on setting goals and keep working hard to meet them. Goals just don’t help us measure progress, they also give us a sense of hope, direction, and motivation. Goals create momentum, generate activities, and also help us to stay focused during difficult times.
Making an Anchored “Hope” Map
If you have a vision but need help with the goals, try making an Anchored “Hope” Map, like the one below. Hope has been known to expand thinking and fuel persistence. In fact, how you think about the future determines your success in work, relationships, school, and life. High levels of hope leads to an increase in positive workplace outcomes, gains in academic performance, and increased happiness. A hope map can help you plan out your goals in a hope-filled way, so you can see your goals in a different light.
Let’s make up for 2020 and bring more hope into 2021 by seeing our plans met this year.
At the end of the day, if you still feel like you can’t find hope in your situation, reach out to Anchored Hope Counseling today. Anchored Hope Counseling provides a wide range of therapy services from couples counseling to personal one-on-one sessions. View a list of their offerings online, or click here to schedule a consultation today. Also, if you found this post to be helpful, remember to share it with others and subscribe for more insights and news each week.
Download the Anchored Hope Map here.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 ESV