Fostering HopeShura Steven WhitakerPSY 220April 3, 2012Dikeesha Govan Brown

McDermott and Snyder asserts that “hopeful people can tell you what they hope for. Periodically, we all need to take inventory of our hopes and why we hope for the things we do” (as cited in Bolt, 2004). To be successful in fostering hope one should follow suggestions that foster hope.Identifying GoalsStrengthening Willpower and WaypowerVisualizing Success

Identifying GoalsOne identifies and sets goals.Identify major areas of life.Family, relationships, health, leisure, work.Identify goals in each area.•Prioritize concrete and vivid goals.

Strengthening Willpower and Waypower•Remain hopeful with identified goals.•Remain responsible toward obtaining goals.•One views goals as challenges.•Focus on success not failure.•Goals are opportunities not hindrances.

Visualizing Success•One must visualize their success.•Vividly visualize one’s desired outcome.•Visualizing leads to mental simulation.•Foster willpower through mental simulation.•Foster waypower through mental simulation.

Conclusion When fostering hope one can use suggestions such as

identifying goals, strengthening willpower and waypower, and visualizing success. Also 2 other suggestions are learning optimism and communal hope.

Currently I am implementing identifying goals, strengthening willpower and waypower, and visualizing success. Identifying goals allows me to not only identify but also to prioritize my goals in all areas such as in family, relationships, health, leisure and with work. I have really broke ground on my goals. Strengthening willpower and waypower helps me remain positive and hopeful when it comes to goals I have set for myself, like the goals I set of going back to college and receiving my Bachelors degree in Psychology. I see everyday how this builds my willpower and waypower. Visualizing success allowed me to see my goal of going back to college and that goal was achieved, now I must continue to visualize graduating college in order to reach my desired outcome.

My  future plans are to remain active with said 3 suggestions to continue fostering hope within myself and in my life.

Resource PageBolt, M. (2004). Pursuing human strengths: A positive

psychology guide. New York, NY: Worth Publishers.