Today’s goal is to boost your mood, inspire positivity, and restore some bits of faith in humanity. Now is the time to acknowledge the importance of regularly searching for hope and applying the benefits. The hip new slogan for this process is known as hope-scrolling.
Hope is defined as a desire accompanied by expectation or belief in fulfillment. It means to crave or aspire with anticipation and is a significantly powerful component of mental health. Dr. Priya Fafat, a psychotherapist and counsellor, also emphasizes the importance of self-awareness as a critical tool for monitoring one’s feelings of fear, worry, and helplessness. The loss of hope can cripple a strong man and perhaps, even crush an entire nation.
In today’s increasingly challenging culture, Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese monk, explains, “Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.” When I did some research on this topic, I discovered the term hope-scrolling.
Hope-scrolling is purposefully and intentionally seeking out uplifting positive content, particularly on social media. While other platforms (books, music, etc.) can also be a source of inspiration, the current culture fuels the habit of a quick digital supply of information. An earlier term for this concept, as defined by psychologist Kim Penberthy, is kindness-scrolling.
The phrase doom-scrolling is the contrasted alternative to hope-scrolling. Research points out that as little as two minutes of online doom-scrolling has been shown to have a negative impact on one’s emotions. According to studies by Eric Patterson, “Too much news can affect your mental health in direct and indirect ways. Exposure to bad news increases stress.” Negativity bias is strong, perhaps even addictive. Anxiety can lure us into a digital vortex of despair states research scientist Laura Marciano. When scrolling topics like politics, inflation, war, trauma, and greed, whispers of doom often cancel out the ability to see the sunrise. Hopelessness removes the joy from life.
Counterbalancing bad news with positive news suggests that hope-scrolling can be a powerful tool for self-care and emotional well-being. When content is giving you that little boost where you feel inspired, happy, or amused, that’s positive. Bring on the cute dogs and funny memes. Walk toward the light, and don’t allow darkness to steal your focus.
Whether looking out an actual window or focusing on a computer screen, scientific research confirms the benefits of paying attention to the positive. Keep an eye out for kindness. Look for the laughter. Search for the good. Hold mercy close, and faith even closer. You get to decide what to topic to “click” on. Choose wisely.
Humanity longs to experience hope. It is the expectation that life is more than one anxiety after another that allows purpose and soothes suffering. Perhaps, we’re here in this moment simply trying to fuel that desire for opportunity, purpose, peace, and prosperity. Could it be that in America that we are “afflicted with the world’s highest standard of living and what is probably the world’s most bewildering empty way of life?” ponders author James Baldwin.
Hope is more than a distraction. Hope goes hand in hand with faith seeking something concrete and real. Beneath the surface of anxious imagination beckons calmness. It is not my intention to preach, but I find it very interesting that the Holy Bible makes several references about hope (Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 15:13, Matthew 12:21, Psalm 62:5-6, 1st Timothy 4:10, Isaiah 40:13, Lamentations 3:21-23). Perhaps it’s time to renew your hope, and “soar on wings like eagles…” (Isaiah 40:31).
Hope is defined as a desire accompanied by expectation or belief in fulfillment. It means to crave or aspire with anticipation and is a significantly powerful component of mental health. Dr. Priya Fafat, a psychotherapist and counsellor, also emphasizes the importance of self-awareness as a critical tool for monitoring one’s feelings of fear, worry, and helplessness. The loss of hope can cripple a strong man and perhaps, even crush an entire nation.
In today’s increasingly challenging culture, Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese monk, explains, “Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.” When I did some research on this topic, I discovered the term hope-scrolling.
Hope-scrolling is purposefully and intentionally seeking out uplifting positive content, particularly on social media. While other platforms (books, music, etc.) can also be a source of inspiration, the current culture fuels the habit of a quick digital supply of information. An earlier term for this concept, as defined by psychologist Kim Penberthy, is kindness-scrolling.
The phrase doom-scrolling is the contrasted alternative to hope-scrolling. Research points out that as little as two minutes of online doom-scrolling has been shown to have a negative impact on one’s emotions. According to studies by Eric Patterson, “Too much news can affect your mental health in direct and indirect ways. Exposure to bad news increases stress.” Negativity bias is strong, perhaps even addictive. Anxiety can lure us into a digital vortex of despair states research scientist Laura Marciano. When scrolling topics like politics, inflation, war, trauma, and greed, whispers of doom often cancel out the ability to see the sunrise. Hopelessness removes the joy from life.
Counterbalancing bad news with positive news suggests that hope-scrolling can be a powerful tool for self-care and emotional well-being. When content is giving you that little boost where you feel inspired, happy, or amused, that’s positive. Bring on the cute dogs and funny memes. Walk toward the light, and don’t allow darkness to steal your focus.
Whether looking out an actual window or focusing on a computer screen, scientific research confirms the benefits of paying attention to the positive. Keep an eye out for kindness. Look for the laughter. Search for the good. Hold mercy close, and faith even closer. You get to decide what to topic to “click” on. Choose wisely.
Humanity longs to experience hope. It is the expectation that life is more than one anxiety after another that allows purpose and soothes suffering. Perhaps, we’re here in this moment simply trying to fuel that desire for opportunity, purpose, peace, and prosperity. Could it be that in America that we are “afflicted with the world’s highest standard of living and what is probably the world’s most bewildering empty way of life?” ponders author James Baldwin.
Hope is more than a distraction. Hope goes hand in hand with faith seeking something concrete and real. Beneath the surface of anxious imagination beckons calmness. It is not my intention to preach, but I find it very interesting that the Holy Bible makes several references about hope (Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 15:13, Matthew 12:21, Psalm 62:5-6, 1st Timothy 4:10, Isaiah 40:13, Lamentations 3:21-23). Perhaps it’s time to renew your hope, and “soar on wings like eagles…” (Isaiah 40:31).
RSS Feed