--- description: Life’s not all about “improving performance” title: How Hope Can Improve Your Life, Backed By Research image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt08bd3823b41a7c52/698854c035ba6f26edc0dc41/87128881-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=1080&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Ideas](/section/ideas/) ## Ideas Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Psychology](/tag/psychology/) ## Psychology Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # How Hope Can Improve Your Life, Backed By Research by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jun 17, 2015 4:01 AM CUT  Getty Images by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jun 17, 2015 4:01 AM CUT ## There’s a scientific reason to have hope Everyone says “have hope.” Is that just silly pollyanna optimism? No. Actually there’s a science to hope. Via [Ungifted: Intelligence Redefined](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B3M3UME/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00B3M3UME&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): --- > “” --- Hope is “not just a feel-good emotion.” Hope is predictive. Those without hope avoid bigger challenges, quit earlier, and act helpless. Via [Ungifted: Intelligence Redefined](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B3M3UME/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00B3M3UME&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): --- > “” --- Hope isn’t just wishful thinking. It’s related to positive outcomes. People who scored higher in hope had higher GPA’s and did better academically. Via [Ungifted: Intelligence Redefined](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B3M3UME/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00B3M3UME&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): --- > “” --- Hope doesn’t just make you a better student, it also [makes you more creative](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2010/11/are-hopeful-employees-more-creative/ "undefined"). Via [Ungifted: Intelligence Redefined](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B3M3UME/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00B3M3UME&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): --- > “” --- As I’ve posted before, [hope predicts achievement better than intelligence, grades or personality](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/10/what-predicts-achievement-better-than-intelli/ "undefined"). It actually predicts law school GPA _better than the LSAT_. Via [Ungifted: Intelligence Redefined](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B3M3UME/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00B3M3UME&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): --- > “” --- Okay, okay, so hope is a good thing. (For more on how to be successful and happy, click [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/09/be-more-successful/ "undefined").) I know what you’re asking: **_How can I be more hopeful?_** ## How you can have hope As I’ve posted before, research shows that [both hope and despair can be self-fulfilling prophecies](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/11/hope-despair-prophecies/ "undefined"). A simple exercise before a challenge can increase your level of hope — and your results. Via [Ungifted: Intelligence Redefined](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B3M3UME/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00B3M3UME&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): --- > “” --- So let’s break this down. Before a big challenge: 1. **Imagine your goal.** 2. **Write down anything that might stop you from achieving it.** 3. **Come up with a few contingency plans to address those obstacles.** 4. **Rule the world.** Just doing those three things can increase your level of hope and dramatically improve how well you perform. This little bit of planning not only addresses real issues, it improves your feeling of control over the situation. (For more on how to stop being lazy and get more done, click [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/08/how-to-stop-being-lazy/ "undefined").) You now have a reason to believe you’ll do well. That’s hope. ## One More Thing Life’s not all about “improving performance.” Hope also makes you happier. Via [Ungifted: Intelligence Redefined](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B3M3UME/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00B3M3UME&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): --- > “” --- Better performance, creativity _and_ happiness. Give it a shot. It can work. C’mon, have a little hope. **Join over 195,000 readers. Get a free weekly update via email** [**here**](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD "undefined")**.** **_This piece originally appeared on_** [**_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/have-hope/ "undefined")**_._** Related posts: [How To Stop Being Lazy And Get More Done – 5 Expert Tips](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/08/how-to-stop-being-lazy/ "undefined") [6 Things The Most Productive People Do Every Day](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/06/most-productive-people/ "undefined") [New Harvard Research Reveals A Fun Way To Be More Successful](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/09/be-more-successful/ "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3923358/hope-improve-life-happiness/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3923358/hope-improve-life-happiness/"},"headline":"How Hope Can Improve Your Life, Backed By Research","datePublished":"2015-06-17T04:01:42.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-31T08:31:04.164Z","description":"Life’s not all about “improving performance”","url":"https://time.com/3923358/hope-improve-life-happiness/","keywords":["Psychology","Happiness"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt08bd3823b41a7c52/698854c035ba6f26edc0dc41/87128881-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Eric Barker","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/eric-barker/"}],"articleSection":"Ideas","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt08bd3823b41a7c52/698854c035ba6f26edc0dc41/87128881-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"dry-land-flower","caption":"dry-land-flower","creditText":"Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/ideas/","name":"Ideas"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/psychology/","name":"Psychology"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3923358/hope-improve-life-happiness/","name":"How Hope Can Improve Your Life, Backed By Research"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"How to Maximize Happiness With Your Spending: An Economist Explains","description":"University of Michigan economist Justin Wolfers explains how best to spend your money to maximize happiness.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/Ypg3UoAM/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2014-06-09T22:13:22.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Ypg3UoAM.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/3923358/hope-improve-life-happiness/","duration":"PT1M29S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/3923358/hope-improve-life-happiness/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```