Το μήνυμα των Χριστουγέννων περιέχει το συναίσθημα της αγάπης και τη δύναμη της ελπίδας. Ας προσέξουμε ότι πρόκειται για δύναμη του ανθρώπινου χαρακτήρα. Η ελπίδα, κατατάσσεται στα θετικά συναισθήματα και αφορά την ικανότητα του ατόμου να σκέφτεται αισιόδοξα σχετικά με τις μελλοντικές του προσδοκίες. Συνδυάζει ρεαλιστικά, πρακτικά χαρακτηριστικά σχετικά με την συμπεριφορά, παράλληλα με την κινητοποίηση, την μέθοδο και την πίστη του ατόμου ότι μπορεί να κατακτήσει τους στόχους του. Επισημαίνεται από τους ερευνητές που έχουν ασχοληθεί με την διερεύνηση της ελπίδας, ότι ελπίζοντας πως θα καταφέρουμε κάτι, αναπτύσσουμε παράλληλα την ικανότητα να σχεδιάζουμε πολλούς και διαφορετικούς τρόπους που θα μας οδηγήσουν στην επιτυχία (Sydner, Rang και Sigmon, 2002). Το κέρδος είναι διπλό: Αφενός γινόμαστε πιο εφευρετικοί και εξασκούμε την δημιουργικότητα μας, αφετέρου μαθαίνουμε να μην… τα παρατάμε στην πρώτη αποτυχία.

Hope has been extensively studied in the field of Positive Psychology, an industry that aspires to place proper emphasis on one's strengths, motivations, positive emotions and well-being. In simple terms, I rely on my own strengths to address my weaknesses. It may already be known or given to some. However, for many years in the field of mental health, the emphasis on the symptom, the dysfunctions of the individual and the environment, and the difficulties left no room for the assessment, identification and development of the individual's strengths, in the overall treatment. High levels of hope have been associated with better outcomes in academic performance, athletic performance and fitness in general, adaptive skills and psychotherapy (Snyder, 2009). Especially for children, Snyder stresses the importance of the secure bond throughout childhood; Love, stability, consistency and healthy boundaries are some of the essential ingredients in .. a recipe for a hopeful vision for the future! On the contrary, behaviors and patterns of neglect and rejection lead children to very low or even negative development of their capacity for hope, referring to a negative and pessimistic way of thinking about the future.

Εξασκώντας τα παιδιά στην δύναμη της Ελπίδας!

Next time you set an important goal as parents, you can share this effort with the child as you are the most important imitation person. First, put together these realistic goals, that can be evaluated / measured on a regular basis.

Then develop different outreach plans of your goals. You may need to use some of them and not only the original plan. It is important to convey the message of continuous effort as opposed to easy resignation. Also, by dividing an important goal into smaller pieces, it seems to work more effectively for children and adults.

Finally, while maintaining an optimistic and promising perspective, help children to enhance their efforts through feedback, at regular intervals, evaluating the very goals that we have presented above. At this point it is important to emphasize tha the goals of the children are theirs and not transmitted by us, their friends, brothers or other people.

Bibliography

Snyder, C. R., & Lopez, S. J. (Eds.). (2009). Oxford handbook of positive psychology. Oxford library of psychology.

Snyder, C. R., Lopez, S. J., Shorey, H. S., Rand, K. L., & Feldman, D. B. (2003). Hope theory, measurements, and applications to school psychology. School psychology quarterly, 18(2), 122.

Snyder, C. R., Rand, K. L., & Sigmon, D. R. (2002). Hope theory. Handbook of positive psychology, 257-276.