These are difficult times. Many of us are feeling isolated from others and a sense of disconnection from what matters to us. And the hits keep coming.

In 2023, former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy sounded alarm bells, warning us about an epidemic of loneliness and isolation affecting millions of Americans (Murthy, 2023). In his public health advisory, Murthy shared that high levels of isolation can have negative effects on our physical health, mental health, well-being, and public health in general.

According to hope researcher Diane Dreher, “we must connect.” Her research indicates that choosing hope is a key strategy to push back on the chaos, commotion, and challenge in today’s world (Dreher, personal communication, 2025). With so many of us struggling to find hope, Dreher’s book, Pathways to Inner Peace (2025), outlines nine pathways to greater peace, connection, and hope.

Hope is a valuable strength throughout life and can be especially important during difficult times. According to hope expert C.R. Snyder, hope involves three steps: goals, pathways, and agency (Snyder, Rand & Sigmon, 2002; Snyder, 1994). First, we choose a goal we can believe in, then........

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