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Spring is coming on March 20. It can be a time of hope and renewal. Spring ends the winter season like light ends the darkness. The coming of spring reminds us of the peaks and valleys of life. If you are in a valley, know that there is light at the end of the tunnel and a peak will come soon. Just as the seasons change, so too will your life. While it may be hard to be positive if you are facing life challenges, there are three ways that spring can start a season of hope.

Moving into spring can improve your mood through increased sunlight, more regular outdoor activities, and more time spent outside. Regardless of the situation one is in, the change of season can help you move forward, survive and thrive through your present situation, and plan for a better tomorrow.

Without hope, I could not get through my days. As my body developed worsening symptoms over a decade ago, I took time to grieve and be devastated. I could no longer be an ER doctor, and had more limited mobility. However, this change brought with it other opportunities, and a change in my life course. My new life became focused on finding a way to work from home and stay positive as a mom and wife raising four young children. Despite the overwhelm, I had to believe that things were going to work out.

Hope helped me get through the day-to-day, but I knew my situation could help others. I also knew that physicians tended not to think outside the box. I then looked into those that did. I interviewed 60 wise adults displaying the 8 recognized elements of wisdom. To help others improve their lives, I published these insights in my book, Common Wisdom.

I knew that the only way to go was forward. Many have talked about the importance of looking ahead. I know it’s hard to be positive when you are in a valley. It can be difficult to plan for the future. My suggestion is to start small. Focus first on your desire to change, and then take baby steps. Never let anyone tell you that you can’t make positive changes.

The benefits of hope are often overlooked. Besides hope feeling good, what does it do for us?

Hope Promotes Good Health. There is a positive relationship between having hope and your well-being. In addition to promoting emotional wellness, having hope results in the secretion of hormones that signal to the body that it can heal and rest. When the body is in stress mode, it feels that it must be in a state of fight-or-flight.

Hope Builds Resilience. Hope can change your perspective after a setback. It’s a belief that a challenge is not there to stop you, but to teach you something. Hope builds your mental muscle so that you can overcome obstacles. While you may feel like giving up, believe that you will get through it. Give it time, and you will see it differently.

Hope Strengthens Relationships. People want to be around friends and family who are hopeful. You are probably drawn to people who are positive about the future. You would rather be around a person who brings you up versus someone who brings you down. Having hope helps you build stronger connections with others.

Hope does not emerge in a single, precise moment. You are not born with it. You have to build it inside you. It is like gratitude. Hope requires reminders, practice, and discussion. Being hopeful about a better tomorrow is what will give you a reason to get up in the morning. Like the seasons, a personal winter is temporary. You can control a situation by the way you perceive it. Hope gives you a way to look at situations with optimism instead of doom. It helps you get through the tunnel, and see the light at the end.

So get ready to turn the clocks forward, get outside, and find new hope this spring.

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Common Wisdom: 8 Scientific Elements of a Meaningful Life by Dr. Laura Gabayan

Science Direct: Hope and physical health By Heather N. Rasmussen, Elizabeth England and Brian P.Cole

Jama Network: The Power of Hope by James C Harris, MD, Catherine D. DeAngelis, MD, MPH

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