Cultivating Hope for the Future
Social ecology expert Dr. Nicole Ardoin explains why a positive outlook on the future helps us become more effective climate activists.
Try 14 days freeBetter mental health starts with Headspace. Unrivaled expertise to make life feel a little easier, using guided meditations, mindfulness tips, focus tools, sleep support, and dedicated programs.
Hope is something that's incredibly important for us as human beings to have and to hold onto, especially when dealing with climate anxiety. But what exactly is hope? (pleasant music) Hi, I'm Dr. Nicole Ardoin, I'm the Director of the Social Ecology Lab at Stanford university. We study people's relationships to the environment. (pleasant music) All definitions of hope share a common theme, having a positive outlook of the future. In our work in the Social Ecology Lab at Stanford, we add another element to this definition. Hope is the feeling that even if our dreams for the future seem increasingly unlikely, we still believe that it is possible and we have some power to make it happen. And what connects hope to action is a concept called efficacy, or the feeling that one's actions both as an individual and as part of a group will be effective at addressing the issues at hand. So when you think about it, hope really is an important aspect of taking action. An example of self-efficacy might be someone deciding to join a climate protest, such as the ones around the world for the Global Day for Climate Justice. They might know that they are only one person, but they believe in their impact by joining many others advocating for climate change mitigation. Self-efficacy might also be when a person purposefully chooses public transportation or decides to walk or bike somewhere, rather than driving, to reduce their carbon footprint. Of course, the problem of climate change is much bigger than just making small personal choices. That's where collective efficacy comes in handy. Collective efficacy occurs when members of a community come together to address an issue, and believe that their work can be effective. For example, local government officials in a local university worked with over 1,500 residents in Anchorage, Alaska to develop a climate action plan for the coastal city. Through a series of workshops, events, town hall meetings, and collective brainstorming sessions at libraries and museums, community members led the charge in shaping plans to reduce carbon emissions. I invite you to take a moment this week to consider the following, what's needed in your community? And how can you take action that's most aligned with your community needs? What are the gifts, skills, or knowledge that you bring to the table? There are also so many different ways to conceptualize what community can look like. So let's make sure we're bringing in the diversity of our communities in the fight against climate change. For example, effective engagement is often found in dynamic demographics, like a mix of younger and older people. Community work can be found with your family, your friends, friends that are your family, through your work colleagues, through your kid's friend's parents, and different social and meetup groups. Now what can you do if you're finding it really hard to hold onto hope? Well you've come to the right place because meditation can help. My lab is...
Details
About your teachers
- More about Andy
A former Buddhist monk, Andy has guided people in meditation and mindfulness for 20 years. In his mission to make these practices accessible to all, he co-created the Headspace app in 2010.
- More about Eve
Eve is a mindfulness teacher, overseeing Headspace’s meditation curriculum. She is passionate about sharing meditation to help others feel less stressed and experience more compassion in their lives.
- More about Dora
As a meditation teacher, Dora encourages others to live, breathe, and be with the fullness of their experiences. She loves meditation’s power to create community and bring clarity to people’s minds.
- More about Kessonga
Kessonga has been an acupuncturists, therapist, and meditation teacher, working to bring mindfulness to the diverse populations of the world.
- More about Rosie
Rosie Acosta has studied yoga and mindfulness for more than 20 years and taught for over a decade. Rosie’s mission is to help others overcome adversity and experience radical love.
Look after your mind
Proven guided meditations and programs to help you stress less, sleep more soundly, and better navigate life’s challenges
Science-backed
Studies show that using Headspace for 30 days can reduce stress, increase resilience, and improve overall well-being
Explore 1000+ expert-led exercises
Access our library of meditations, breathing exercises, and guidance videos for stress, sleep, focus, everyday anxiety , parenting, and more.
Member reviews
Hear from some of our members
Your app brings so much peace and tolerance to our home.
Rachel
UK
Changing my thoughts has allowed me to change my life.
Davide
London
The stress and loneliness courses … taught me how to comfort myself.
Alicia
Canada
Headspace provides me with … a connection to myself, and a disconnection from negative thoughts, feelings, and sensations.
Keri
UK
- © 2024 Headspace Inc.
- Terms & conditions
- Privacy policy
- Consumer Health Data
- Your privacy choices
- CA Privacy Notice