The Psychology of Hope

in story •  7 years ago  (edited)

Yes, I admit it, I’m addicted to podcasts. I listen to them while traveling, exercising, and cooking. The other day I caught episode 509 of the Travel With Rick Steves podcast while I was sweating on the elliptical machine and daydreaming about some far away tropical beach.

One of the guests on this episode had been making a trip to Russia to visit the same group of people in the same cities every five years from 1995, 2005, and 2015 and documenting the results. She mentioned that during her first visit to Russia in 1995, just four years after the Berlin wall fell, the “vodka culture” was still very much entrenched in Russian society. Most people smoked and drank excessively, health and hygiene weren’t the greatest.

She noted that with each subsequent visit there was a marked increase in hope, more industriousness and self respect, and people lived healthier lifestyles. During her last trip, in 2015, most of the younger generation didn’t smoke tobacco and the trend was to eat healthy organic foods and and go to the gym. What did she attribute this fifteen year transformation to? The improved outward conditions and quality of life helped to create hope for a better tomorrow.

I couldn’t help but draw some obvious parallels between her experience and the current sad state of affairs here in the United States. The difference being in this country the situation is rapidly slipping in the opposite direction. The concept of the American Dream is out of the realm of possibility for most. The middle class is vanishing, there is a largely ignored opioid epidemic across the entire nation, a serious heroin crisis concentrated in the rustbelt, and rising racial and religious tensions and extremism.

I’m seeing a level of political detachment in the average US citizen that borderlines on frightening. As scary as this is, I understand, as our politicians seem totally out of touch with the wants and needs of mainstream Americans. People are working longer hours for less and, after the last botched Presidential election, many have completely lost trust in the system. As corporations and banks begin to wield more influence, the avenues for the average person to change their family’s financial situation for the better within their lifetimes are growing fewer. As a result, for the first time in recent history people are beginning to lose hope.

How do we rekindle that spark of hope?

As a student of history, I believe that where there’s change there’s also opportunity. We must identify and break out of old patterns that no longer are working for the greater good and be open to change. We must engage in the political process at every level and we must embrace new concepts like cryptocurrency and blockchain that have the potential to force a societal shift for the betterment of the majority.

The more I learn about blockchain technology and experience the benefits of it in my own life, the more I understand the ways in which it will completely and rapidly change the world as we know it. As we enter the mass adoption phase in 2018 and 2019 many more people will see the light and hope will be rekindled enmasse, not only in the US but across the entire world.

The feeling of hope this will provide could be the boost that propels us to save ourselves and this beautiful planet. For the sake of us and future generations, it simply must. One of the ways I want to contribute to this is to get the HardFork series made and distributed as wide of an audience as possible.

Don’t Wait

We don’t have to wait for perfect outward conditions or mass adoption to heal ourselves. Personal evolution can also take place even during tough times, from the inside out. How is this possible? Make it a priority to take better care of you. Meditation, yoga, exercise, proper sleep, a healthier diet, and just taking a few minutes per day to decompress are all great tools to heal yourself from toxic surroundings.

In a world where it’s acceptable for leaders of nuclear-armed nations (with both prepubescent maturity levels and emotional intelligence) are trading insults on Twitter it’s important to keep the spirit of hope alive in any way possible.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! Keep your heads up and take care of you.

(Gif compliments of Giphy.com)

Please follow our official Steemit account for the film series @hardfork-series. Did you miss our last post? If so CLICK HERE to read it!

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*I am an American novelist, poet, traveler, and crypto-enthusiast. If you’ve enjoyed my work please sign up for my author newsletter at my website. Newsletter subscribers will receive exclusive updates and special offers and your information will never be sold or shared.

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Truly excellent post @ericvancewalton!
”Meditation, yoga, exercise, proper sleep, a healthier diet, and just taking a few minutes per day to decompress are all great tools to heal yourself from toxic surroundings.”
Words to live by!

Thank you my friend!

Good points! Take care of you and get into Steemit!

Yeah, getting onto Steemit will help people take care of themselves....great point Ann!

I appreciate your thoughts here and am of the same mind - blockchain, decentralized tech is one of my main sources of hope! This paradigm shift doesn't need the traditional system to condone it and is simultaneously rising up while our political leadership gets worse and worse. I am also hopeful about the corruption and abuses of power that are being exposed at every level and actually prosecuted. If our system can endure and be used to cleanse our current state of affairs, and this new decentralization can continue to grow, there is great promising future ahead.

I too am an avid podcast listener, so many amazing thinkers out there and we're so fortunate to have such easy access!

Thank you for your comment, Ruth! I certainly hope it all turns out for the best. It's the mindset of this old paradigm to operated from a place of domination, enslavement and greed. Hopefully they don't find a way to transfer these toxic traits into this new age. What are your favorite podcasts?

I'd like to see that old paradigm of fear and greed melt away too!!
My fav podcasts are 10% Happier with Dan Harris, The Moth, Tales of a Red Clay Rambler (ceramics), On Being, and sometimes Wait Wait Don't Tell me and lately I've been listening to the Stansberry Investor Research podcast. Although their politics and lazy logic often drive me crazy, they have some interesting guests who discuss the financial world from alternative perspectives that I've been interested to hear about.

I am going to give a listen to a few of the ones you mention in your post like Ask Altucher and Blockchain Innovation.

and yes personal wellness is absolutely essential for each and all of us :-)!

You are right, today's situation in the world is very unsettling and uncertain because of too much sharing of interests and opinions. There are forces to which this situation suits and moreover they support this chaos to catch their fish in muddy water, but the world is changing everywhere, many people start to wake up from this dumb dream and think about their life and what is going on in the circle. I really hope that new technologies and thinking will change us and our world! Thank you Eric.

I love how you phrased that, "...many people start to wake up from this dumb dream and think about their life and what is going on in the circle." This is exactly what is happening. Thanks!

The world is changing rapidly, this is a totally new age. When I was a little kid, there were no computers, they are now an integral part of life. The cryptocurrencies introduced another new dimension.

True! So many changes are right on the cusp!

So I had read this before I was hoping for more input I do appreciate the answers. I think hope is something more than word. I wish more people had it i believe hope is more than wishful thinking ………. Hopes defined as the perceived capability to derive pathways to desired goals, and motivate oneself via agency thinking to use those pathways. The adult and child hope scales that are derived from hope theory are described. Hope theory is compared to theories of learned optimism, optimism, self-efficacy, and self-esteem. Higher hope consistently is related to better outcomes in academics, athletics, physical health, psychological adjustment, and psychotherapy. Processes that lessen hope in children and adults are reviewed. Using the hope theory definition, no evidence is found for "false" hope. Future research is encouraged in regard to accurately enhancing hope in medical feedback and helping people to pursue those goals for which they are best suited.

hehe you ended on a great note there i am too keeping my hopes alive

Thanks, I'm counting down the days until that baffoon is out of office!

Rick Steves is the bomb, used to watch him all the time back when PBS was seemingly the only outlet for alternative/creative info. I need to download more podcasts, i have a short commute but often listen to sports talk radio in the car (ok, just shoot me now!) / "level of political detachment in the average US citizen that borderlines on frightening" , scary and true words for sure! peace (-:

You've got that right! I'm so glad I've spent years watching his show on PBS and listening to podcasts..it's been great research for traveling. I used to listen to lots of talk radio too my car has iPhone connectivity now so I can listen to podcasts in the car. Thanks for your comment!

Make it a priority to take better care of you. Meditation, yoga, exercise, proper sleep, a healthier diet, and just taking a few minutes per day to decompress are all great tools to heal yourself from toxic surroundings.
Fully agreed with it dear friend

Thanks, @spiritualpower!

Tremendous post dear friend @ericvancewalton, I really like what you have written and I totally share your words, of the changes and the adversities arise the hopes and the opportunities, you only have to know how to see them and take advantage of them, thank you very much for this reflection
I wish you a wonderful weekend

Thank you so much @jlufer! I hope you had a great weekend as well!

I agree that the blockchain technology will have a big impact in our world in the upcoming years. And while we wait for that to happen, self-care should he the main goal. Our greatest wealth is our health and it's important to take good care of it. I started meditating a year ago and I have picked up other healthy habits, because I realized that my body is my temple!

You are so right when you say "our greatest wealth is health"! Thanks @trendo!

your post is very good @ericvancewalton if you are not busy, kungilah my blog to look around😊

Glad you enjoyed it!

@ericvancewalton, You've explained better current community how behavior inside to society. Various cultures and attitudes have all around the countries. US has own radical society. But through cryptocurrency and blockchain, peoples keep holding some hope and target. Its better idea. Why we wasted time for worst task? I suggest if you have free time login to this platform and learn more about blockchain. It would be great opportunities.
Hard fork series keep going their new projects still this time. Absolutely hardfork-series giving new evolution to the society via their projects. Best tip is increase more audience for hard fork. I salute you for your final advice. Thanks for inspiration post.

Thanks for reading and commenting!

You're welcome @ericvancewalton, I always keep in touch with hardfork series probably without sleep.

THATS GOOD CONTend USED BY YOU THis time you doing something new thats good

Amazing work @ericvancewalton.you say is right today's very Important of yoga for health .

Namaste

Learn some new from your post. Love to read it ...wish you best of luck keep posting becuse we waiting for your post @Resteemed ...... :)

Good sharing for your learning to us..
Good job and success is always for you...
Thank you so much...

Politics circumstances are same in whole world, I think in america there are good law for public.

I agree that the blockchain era could have a large impact in our world in the approaching years. And whilst we watch for that to show up, self-care have to he the principle aim. Our best wealth is our fitness and it's essential to take properly care of it. I started out meditating a year in the past and i have picked up other healthy habits, because I realized that my frame is my temple!

personal evolution is upto us and how we would wanna see out the change to come along

podcast's are always addictive eric i don't think you need to admit that ...that's a great post you have shared by the way

keeping that little sparkle of hope alive can give so much in life :)

muy buena información excelente

Nic post

Learn some new from your post. Love to read it.

Thank you for your contribution, it is very important for many your contribution
ericvancewalton

I like your post

Excellent post thanks for sharing!!!

Thanks for the important info..
@Resteem

Your dream must come true. The idea of socializing your culture is very good.

The take care of your self advice is so important. I am still wishing I could get back in shape with some exercise, I will have to start soon. Thanks for the reminder...

Good note... Liked it

As desperate as things are getting, there is always the possibility for change.