The holiday season, despite being called ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ can be stressful. People may be feeling the physical effects of stress… or maybe the physical effects of some stress-eating or holiday eating, too.
We want to continue to spread hope and joy during this busy season, but our reach is limited – and we know we can reach more people with your help. Here are a few ideas we wanted to share on how we can all take part in keeping spirits bright!
Hope is such an important thing to have, not just now, but always. A sense of hopefulness is often what compels people to keep moving forward, even during the most difficult of times. Emotions like joy can work in tandem with hope… hope sparks joy and joy fuels hope. To help cultivate both in our community, we put together a list of ideas that are simple to do, and we encourage you to choose a few to do every day!
What would you add to our list below of how to spread hope?
How You Can Fuel Hope and Joy
Which of the following can you do right now? Which can you do this week? And which can you work on for the months to come?
Share the Gospel.
Can you think of anything that gives more hope than the story of our great and loving God? We can’t! Remind people of the amazing promises God has given to us and the love He has for us.
Also, ask how you can pray for them. We know that prayer is powerful, and taking the opportunity to show how deeply you care for someone that you would pray for them can provide so much hope. It’s a simple act that can have incredible outcomes.
Share YOUR Story of Hope.
Maybe there was a time in your life when you lacked hope or joy. Share your story of what moved you out of that dark place and back into the light. If Valeo happened to play a role in that story, we would be incredibly grateful to hear it and honored to share it with others. Shoot us a message to connect. Stories from you can help others find the courage, motivation, and strength to seek the care and help that they need.
Be Kind ALWAYS (and Do Acts of Kindness).
It can be easy to lose our temper or be short with others when we are frustrated. We forget that our interactions have an impact on others… so every interaction is an opportunity to pay forward kindness, or pass on frustration. A few ideas of random acts of kindness are:
- Create and send “Kindness Cards”. Make a little reusable kind note that you can put into a card and send to a friend. Then encourage them to pass the note along to someone else it makes them think of.
- Participate in the Drive Through Difference or send a virtual gift card for a coffee or tea.
- Compliment a stranger any time you see something positive or find a way to connect with them, even if for a moment. (e.g. “I love your [insert clothing or accessory, etc]”, “Thank you so much for putting your cart in the cart corral!”)
- Let someone ahead of you in line.
- Send a thank you out of the blue. Remember that one time that one person did something nice for you… and they probably didn’t think twice about it, but you still remember it? Write them a thank you to let them know the lasting impression it had on you.
Find the Right Crew.
Surrounding yourself with the right community is important for both your mental and physical health. Make sure your family, friends, neighbors, congregation, etc. are people who spread joy, love and kindness. You will find that the more you surround yourself with people who have a heart for spreading joy, the more you will spread joy without even thinking about it!
If you want to help your current crew be more mindful of health, reach out to us about our living room chats. We can work together to determine the best way to structure a chat that meets everyone’s needs.
Congratulate Achievements, No Matter Their Size.
Remember how good it felt when your parent or teacher (or perhaps, more recently, your boss) told you how great of a job you did? Help someone else to feel that by noticing their achievements, even if it’s as small as loading the dishwasher with excellence! Noticing small achievements also reminds us that the things we do (even small things) get noticed.
Remind People You Believe in Them.
Especially when someone is feeling low in hope, remind them that you know they can make it through hard times. Don’t belittle their struggle, but remind them that they are bigger than the struggle and, if it seems fitting, help provide them with the tools they can use themselves to accomplish their goal or task.
Share Your Ideas
Have additional ideas on spreading hope and joy? We want to hear them! Email me at emiller@valeowc.com with your ideas. You can send ideas on acts of kindness, or even share stories of hope or kindness that you have witnessed this year.
