Hope Heals

A recent study shows that hope fights symptoms of depression. Hope, as defined by this article, is not just optimism, the overall belief that good things will happen. According to the article, "hope involves having goals, along with the desire and plan to achieve them." The great news is that this type of hope can be taught. If having goals or the desires and/or plans to achieve them does not come naturally to a person, that person can be taught how to have hope.

As a teacher, this excites me. Helping a student to set an academic goal, to find the motivation to achieve the goal, and to develop a plan to reach that goal, can not only help that student get a better education, it can help his or her mental health. I just hope more research is published on HOW to teach people to be hopeful, especially in the classroom. Who knows ... maybe as I study Educational Research and Educational Psychology further I will research developing this type of hope in students.

Fortunately, there is another type of hope that anyone can receive right now ... straight from God through the Holy Spirit if you will just trust in God ... and the Holy Spirit is the best counselor/teacher there is ...

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13