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In Season 3 of the hit television sitcom Schitt’s Creek, Johnny Rose suggests that hotel proprietor Stevie Budd inform guests that they will be gone for the afternoon.
Stevie finds a “Back in 15 minutes” sign for the front desk. The show’s writers were on to something! A recent groundbreaking study from the University of Missouri illuminates the deeper impact of hope. Psychology has long held that hope is tied to goal setting and achieving. But the Missouri researchers discovered that hope is more profound than merely the desire to accomplish a goal. It’s a “a vital emotional experience.” The study declared: “Hope is more essential to our well-being than happiness or gratitude.” Why? Because hope makes life feel meaningful. And experiencing life as meaningful is crucial for our emotional, mental, and physical health. Hope begins with the belief that our situation will improve at work, at home, and in life. That belief then compels us to invest time, energy, and patience in the possibility of a better outcome. That meaningful pursuit of a better outcome drives us to connect and engage, placing hope at the heart of mentoring:
Between 2005 and 2008, The Gallup Organization conducted a survey examining the four expectations employees hold for their leaders: trust, compassion, stability, and hope. About hope, Gallup discovered that we look to our leaders for inspiration for a better future. Essentially, we contribute value with our work, hoping our efforts will improve the future – ours, the team’s, and the organization’s. We want our work to matter. Based on the Missouri research, this hope that our work matters gives our work meaning and promotes our well-being. The Missouri researchers concluded that to enhance our quality of life, we must strive daily to boost our hope. Hope Boosters:
As Lue on our team often invites: “What’s the best that can happen?” |