Most people think that hope is a fleeting emotion, something that comes and goes. In reality, hope is more of a skill. Hope is a lot like a muscle. We can strengthen and grow it. When we know how to grow and maintain hope in our own lives, we can bring hope to others. Here are 10 simple ways you can spread hope and kindness today.

Bring Hope In Hard Times

It seems like everybody is struggling right now. We are struggling with what is happening in our homes, in the world, and even in our own communities. Many of us feel like we are slowly losing hope. And it makes sense.

People lose hope when they are inundated with bad news, obstacles, and unforeseen circumstances. When your brain is overwhelmed by fear, it struggles to process or focus on anything else. You start to forget things you would normally remember. People feel tired, sad, or even sick from all the stress and negative emotions flooding their bodies.

The thing is, this flood of bad news is intentional. It’s called the “flood the zone” strategy. If we are given a huge piece of bad news each day, we get distracted by that. We are so focused on the “big thing” going on that everything else, good or bad, gets swept away in the flood.

When the world around us feels like it’s falling apart, spreading and maintaining hope isn’t just a sweet idea. It is a powerful form of resistance.

Hope keeps us connected with our humanity. It maintains a more positive environment for our loved ones, in our community, and in the world. You don’t need huge, grand gestures to build or spread hope. Small, intentional actions can make a world of difference. Here are 10 ways you can be a source of light and encouragement in our world. Together, we can overcome the darkness.

10 Ways to Spread Hope Today

Here are ten simple, fun ways to practice building hope and share it with others.

1. Share a Genuine Smile

It sounds almost too simple, but a genuine smile is the universal symbol of warmth and kindness. It’s a small gesture that has the power to instantly brighten someone’s day. We all deserve happiness and smiling is contagious. It only takes a little bit of intention but the power of a smile can create a ripple effect of positivity.

2. Encourage Someone

Look for opportunities to lift others up. If you see a friend, colleague, or even your child struggling with a difficult task, encourage them! Remind them of their strengths and let them know you believe in them. If you admire something someone has done, tell them! We all deserve recognition for our hard work.

3. Give a Specific Compliment

Although saying “good job” is a kind gesture, a specific and thoughtful compliment is a simple gesture that goes a long way. It shows you are paying attention. Saying something like, “I was so impressed with how you handled that difficult conversation,” or, “I love the colors you chose for your drawing,” can truly make a someone’s day and remind them how much they matter.

4. Create Hope-Filled Art

Art is a wonderful outlet for expressing and exploring emotions. Draw, paint, or create a collage of images and words that make you feel hopeful. Hang the finished artwork in your room, on your mirror, on in a common area like the kitchen or living room. This visual reminder can give a daily dose of inspiration to you and your loved ones.

5. Check Your “Hope Meter”

The best way to grow your hope, and keep from falling into hopelessness, is to measure your hope each day. I created the Hope Meter to help people identify how hopeful they feel. It includes ways to grow your hope and ideas for sharing hope with others.

This tool is a great for adults to check in with themselves and for parents to have meaningful conversations with their kids. You could even make a hope check in part of your morning routine. If someone’s meter is low, you can brainstorm ways to grow it together. If it’s high, talk about how to share hope with somebody else. It takes hope from an abstract idea to a tangible skill we can grow.

6. Build a Family Hope Box

A hope box is a physical collection of items that bring comfort or happiness as you look at them. In the book Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess-These Shoes Were Made for Dancing I call it an anchor box.

To make your own hope box, you’ll fill a shoebox or decorative container with things that make your family feel hopeful: photos from happy memories, encouraging notes, favorite small toys, or quotes that inspire you. When someone is having a tough day, they can open the box for an instant emotional lift.

When you purchase the Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess Series you get a beautiful keepsake box that you can use to build your family’s hope box.

7. Help Someone Out

I can’t think of a better gift than showing kindness or offering a helping hand to someone else. This is truly one of the most effective ways to build hope. Helping others shifts our focus from our own problems and reminds us of our ability to make a positive impact on the world around us.

When we help someone else, we feel blessed and so does the person we are helping. You can volunteer as a family, help an elderly neighbor, or make a meal for someone going through difficult times. It’s amazing how big of a difference a little bit of support can make.

8. Do Hope-Building Activities

Download my free Hoping Skills Workbook for kids. It is packed with engaging activities designed for kids, parents, and educators. It is full of fun tools, ideas, and activities that you can do to help kids build a resilient mindset and stay hopeful when life feels hard.

 

9. Listen to Hopeful Stories

Stories have the power to inspire, pick us up when we feel down, and help us find direction when we aren’t sure where to go.

Don’t spend your day glued to the news. Instead, play podcasts, audiobooks, and playlists full of uplifting, encouraging tales. The Dorktales’ “Hopeful Heroes” playlist, for example, is filled with stories about hidden heroes who stayed optimistic and helped change the world. Listening to stories like these together with your kids can spark meaningful conversations about resilience and courage.

10. Read Stories That Inspire Hope

Books are powerful tools for teaching social-emotional skills. I recently released two books to help both kids and adults stay hopeful, even during hard times.

Hope In the Nick of Time, the third book in the In the Nick of Time series, brings the concept of “hoping skills” to life. Nick Saint is having a rough day. Nothing is going as planned. An unlikely teacher reminds him that we can find hope in any situation. While this is a holiday-themed book, its message of resilience and optimism is relevant all year long.

In the Meantime is a soul-filled survival guide for adults feeling burnt out and overwhelmed. It provides different ways we can all overcome despair and make our way back to the hope-filled lives we deserve to live.

Together, these books offer a roadmap to help families reconnect, reflect on what truly matters, and grow more hope and joy each day. Get your discounted book bundle today! 

Share Hope Today

Hope isn’t just a feeling. It’s a choice. A practice.

Which one of these hope-filled activities will you add to your day? Remember, when you spread hope and kindness, you are actively building a better, more positive world for yourself and those around you. We can overcome the darkness. With hope.

 

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