I think a lot of people have lost hope recently. The constant bad news can stomp out any flicker of hope that you might have had remaining after two years of a global pandemic, floods, bushfires, angry protests, tragic accidents, etc. But if you can flame that ember back into life, it will help carry you through these tough times. Even though there is so much bad stuff in the world, there is still good. There are people who are kind, generous, heroic and courageous. We still live on a beautiful planet.
The sun still rises each day. There are still simple pleasures like ice cream on a hot day, laughing with friends, listening to your favourite band, and other good things you can enjoy.

Five ways to ignite hope:

1. Start with gratitude - make a list of all the good things in your life.
2. ​Replace your negative thoughts. The next time your thoughts are get stuck on a negative loop, change the message. For example, change 'this pandemic will never end' to 'other pandemics have ended, so this one will too.' You can't change what happens to you, but you can change how you react to it.
3. Spend time with friends - face to face connection is so important for your mental health.
4. You are stronger and more resilient than you think. Find some positive self-affirmations to remind yourself of this.
5. Get out in nature - I find that a walk through the bush or on the beach is good for the soul. Even laying in your backyard and watching the clouds or the stars can lighten your soul. 

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I don't know about you, but I struggle with stress, anxiety and low self-esteem. Life has been particularly stressful recently due to Covid 19. I found Nicola's book very useful and have used some of the mindful meditations. I can't tell you how many times I have stopped and concentrated on my breathing and how helpful that has been - when there's an argument, when I'm feeling overwhelmed, even at the dentist yesterday. Everyone should practice mindfulness - the world would be a happier place.

Here's the link the the newsletter - https://www.maggiedent.com

Gratitude is an important aspect of being happy and resilient. Think of someone you're grateful for. Why not make a card, write a message of thanks and send it to them. Not only will it brighten their day, but it's good for your mental health too. You could make a card for:

• a friend
• your parents
• an aunt
• your sister
• a grandparent
• a mentor
• youth group leader
• a teacher
• chaplain
• someone who has helped or encouraged you.

Keep an eye out for an easy DIY watercolour card video on Thursday!

I have a confession to make - I'm addicted to The Voice. I have loved watching the All Stars who have come back after not turning a chair in the Live Auditions in the past or being eliminated during the show. It shows such resilience and strength of character to get back up after a rejection. When they got a 'no" they didn't give up, they worked harder and came back again. All of them had improved from their first appearance on the show. So, just remember - no doesn't mean not ever, just not today!

If you're anything like me you worry about a lot of stuff. We waste a lot of energy worrying about things that don't deserve our attention. There's a Chinese term zhilaohu which translates to 'paper tigers.' This refers to things that seem threatening or powerful but are actually weak and insignificant. If it can physically hurt you it is a real tiger, but if it can't it's a paper tiger.

​You can read more at www.fosteringresilience.com.

CHALLENGE: Write down the things that you're worried about then decide if each one is a paper tiger or a real tiger.