Study shows that hope may be even more essential to well-being than happiness or gratitude

Hope is the key to a meaningful life, according to new research // Show Me Mizzou // University of MissouriHope is the key to a meaningful life, according to new research

University of Missouri researchers demonstrate that boosting hope could be a game-changer for mental health and resilience.

showme.missouri.edu

Hope Powers Meaningful Lives

A University of Missouri team led by Megan Edwards and Laura King dug into data from six studies (over 2,300 people!) and discovered that, out of all the warm-and-fuzzy emotions—happiness, gratitude, excitement—only hope reliably predicts a stronger sense of life’s meaning. Far from being mere wishful thinking tied to goal-setting, hope itself emerges as a core emotional experience that boosts well-being, relationships, health and even income.

How to Amp Up Your Hope

The researchers recommend simple daily moves: notice and savor small wins, grab opportunities when life feels messy, recognize personal and others’ growth, engage in nurturing acts (think planting something or mentoring someone) and remind yourself that bad times don’t last forever. Future studies will explore how to keep that hopeful spark alive when the going gets tough.