Maddie Alvstad Hope Toolkit

Practice 1

Walking through nature supports hope by reminding people that growth can continue even after difficult seasons. In the course hope has often been described as something grounded in reality rather than fantasy. Nature walks create a space for reflection, and peace and allows for reconnection to the world. It is valuable for me because it allows for me to reflect on my experiences while listening and appreciating the world around me.

Practice 2

Journaling supports hope because it allows for the processing of thoughts and emotions honestly instead of ignoring them. Throughout this course hope has been presented as something deeper than optimism, it involves confronting reality while still moving forward. Writing can help make overwhelming situations feel more manageable, and allow for people to look back on the experiences they have had. This is important to me because it allows for me to not only process what I think and feel instead of bottling up my emotions. It allows for me to be present with myself and look back on how I felt in prior situations.

Practice 3

Meditation supports hope by helping people remain grounded in the present and gain clarity. In the course harmful hope was connected to unrealistic expectations or anxiety about the future. Meditation counters this by allowing mindfulness, patience, and acceptance of uncertainty by making people slow down and focus on the present. This is valuable to me because I need to practice being more in tune with my body and my environment. Meditation allows for me to have clarity and peace during hectic times.

Practice 4

Reading supports hope because stories and ideas allow for people to see perspectives beyond their own experience. It allows for people to live a life that is not their own. This course explored how hope motivates endurance, courange, and action even in difficult circumstances. Reading stories where people overcome suffering, failure, and uncertainty reminds people that they are not alone in their struggles. It allows for escape from the world around them into another world where they are not the ones struggling. This is valuable for me because it gives me space and time to process the world around me by taking myself into another world. Reading allows me to breathe and process my emotions in a healthy way.